New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) reacts after hitting a one run single against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago Sept. 23.

The New York Mets (81-76) face the Chicago Cubs (88-69) in the second game of a 3-game set Wednesday. First pitch from Wrigley Field in Chicago is set for 8:05 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's MLB odds around the Mets vs. Cubs odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Mets lead 3-1

The Mets broke through with 2 in the eighth to take the first game of the series 9-7 Tuesday. C Francisco Alvarez hit a go-ahead, 2-run homer in that fateful eighth. SS Francisco Lindor also hit his 29th homer of the year. The Mets lead the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds by 1 game in the final Wild Card spot.

The Cubs still sit in the top Wild Card, and they're 1½ games up on the San Diego Padres with 5 games to go. They've lost 5 straight, though. 2B Nico Hoerner went 3-for-5 with 4 runs scored Tuesday. The rest of the order went 6-for-31 (.194). The team has been treading water at 15-15 over the last month. OF Pete Crow-Armstrong was dropped to ninth in the order, and he's hitting just .195 with a homer and 8 RBIs the last 30 days.

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Mets at Cubs projected starters

RHP Jonah Tong vs. LHP Matthew Boyd

Tong (2-2, 5.94 ERA) makes his fifth start. He has a 1.44 WHIP, 3.8 BB/9 and 11.3 K/9 through 16 2/3 innings.

  • Last start: Win, 5 IP, 0 ER (1 R), 4 H, 0 BB, 8 K in 6-1 home win over San Diego Padres Thursday
  • Hasn't faced Cubs
  • 2 good starts with 1 ER or fewer; 2 starts with 4+ ER

Boyd (13-8, 3.20 ERA) makes his 31st start. He has a 1.11 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 7.8 K/9 through 174 1/3 innings.

  • Last start: No-decision, 3 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 5 K in 8-4 win at Pittsburgh Pirates Sept. 17
  • Last 7 starts: 2-3, 5.82 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 30 K in 38 2/3 IP
  • May 11 at Mets: No-decision, 6 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 8 K

Mets at Cubs odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:20 p.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Mets -102 (bet $102 to win $100 | Cubs -118 (bet $118 to win $100)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Mets -1.5 (+170) | Cubs +1.5 (-210)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 7 (O: -120 | U: +100)

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Mets at Cubs picks and predictions

Prediction

Mets 6, Cubs 3

Moneyline

This is a true pick 'em for me. You have a couple of playoff teams limping to the finish. Tong is the wild card, though, as Boyd is clearly wearing down.

The Mets have scored 4+ runs in 6 of 8 games, and Tong has the arsenal to shut the struggling Cubs down.

Give me the METS (-102).

Run line/Against the spread

Give me JONAH TONG OVER 5.5 K's (+110). He has 6+ K's in 3 of his 4 career starts.

Over/Under

Give me the OVER 7 (-120). We smashed the Over Tuesday, and the Mets' offense has been rolling while both starters have had some issues.

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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: New York Mets at Chicago Cubs odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Ryan Dodson, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

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