Chicago Cubs vs New York Mets Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Wednesday June 24 2026
Use Code WWWC The Chicago Cubs and New York Mets prepare for an afternoon clash at Citi Field on June 24, 2026, with both clubs looking to find consistency as the summer heat intensifies. This preview breaks down the pitching matchup, key offensive trends, and the best betting picks and MLB player props for this National League showdown.
Best Available Odds
Best Moneyline Odds: Chicago Cubs (-118) / New York Mets (+100)
Best Spread Odds: Chicago Cubs -1.5 (+165) / New York Mets +1.5 (-155)
Best Total Odds: Over 8.5 (-101) / Under 8.5 (+105)
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Game Info
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
Time: 1:10 PM EDT
Location: Citi Field, Queens, NY
TV: SNY, Marquee Sports Network
Game: First game of a split doubleheader
Chicago Cubs vs New York Mets Preview
The Chicago Cubs enter Wednesday at 41-37 after opening the series with a 9-6 victory Tuesday night. Monday's scheduled opener was postponed, creating a split doubleheader that begins with this afternoon matchup.
Chicago has won seven of its last 10 games and continues to hold a position in the National League Wild Card race. The Cubs have generated more consistent offense than the Mets throughout the season, scoring approximately 375 runs compared with New York's 317.
Pete Crow-Armstrong continued his remarkable June during Tuesday's victory. He hit a three-run home run during Chicago's five-run second inning, extending his hitting streak to 11 games and his on-base streak to 24.
Crow-Armstrong has become the centre of Chicago's offense. He enters Wednesday with 17 home runs, 18 stolen bases, and one of the strongest recent power stretches in baseball.
Dansby Swanson also delivered a major performance Tuesday. He drove in four runs, including two on a home run, and added an RBI double as Chicago repeatedly punished Kodai Senga.
The Cubs finished with nine runs despite playing without several regular contributors. Their offense has now scored five or more runs in six of its last nine games.
Chicago will use a modified lineup for the afternoon game. Crow-Armstrong leads off, followed by Michael Conforto, Michael Busch, Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Pedro Ramírez, Miguel Amaya, and Swanson.
Alex Bregman, Matt Shaw, and Carson Kelly are not in the Game 1 lineup. Their absences reduce Chicago's depth, but the Cubs still possess established power through Crow-Armstrong, Busch, Suzuki, Happ, and Swanson.
Busch remains one of Chicago's most important left-handed hitters. He will bat third against McLean and should receive multiple opportunities with Crow-Armstrong or Conforto on base.
Suzuki provides the lineup's primary right-handed power threat. His ability to handle velocity will be important against McLean's mid-90s sinker and deep collection of breaking pitches.
Happ brings switch-hitting balance behind Suzuki. He can extend at-bats, draw walks, and attack mistakes when McLean falls behind in the count.
The Cubs are 18-20 away from Wrigley Field. Their road offense has still been more productive than the original draft suggests, averaging approximately 4.7 runs per game.
Chicago's greatest concern is its pitching depth. Edward Cabrera suffered a left hamstring and adductor injury while covering first base Tuesday and has been placed on the injured list.
The Cubs are already without Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Ben Brown, and several other pitchers. Those injuries make every inning from Assad especially important during a doubleheader.
Chicago needed four innings from its bullpen Tuesday after Cabrera's injury. The Cubs also have a second game Wednesday night, preventing manager Craig Counsell from using every preferred reliever aggressively in the afternoon.
The bullpen owns a season ERA around 4.20 and is operating without injured closer Daniel Palencia. Ryan Rolison, Jacob Webb, Hoby Milner, Ethan Roberts, and the remaining available arms may need to cover the late innings.
The New York Mets enter at 34-44 after suffering their third consecutive loss. Tuesday's defeat continued a disappointing season for a club that expected to contend in the National League East.
New York fell behind 7-2 during the first four innings but continued competing against Chicago's bullpen. Francisco Alvarez drove in three runs, while Bo Bichette hit a two-run home run during the ninth.
The late offense made the final score respectable, but the Mets never recovered from Senga's difficult start. Senga allowed seven runs and five walks over 3.2 innings and has now been moved to the bullpen.
New York's Game 1 lineup is significantly different from its normal arrangement. Carson Benge leads off, followed by A.J. Ewing, Bichette, Jared Young, Alvarez, Brett Baty, Marcus Semien, MJ Melendez, and Luis Torrens.
Juan Soto is not in the afternoon lineup after leaving Tuesday's game with left-side back tightness. Soto entered the series batting approximately .299 with 17 home runs and an OPS near .975.
Francisco Lindor is also absent from Game 1. The Mets are activating him for the night game after he missed more than two months with a calf strain.
The simultaneous absence of Soto and Lindor removes New York's two most established offensive stars. It places significantly more responsibility on Bichette, Alvarez, Baty, and Semien.
Bichette has been one of the lineup's more dependable contact hitters. He collected a late home run Tuesday and will bat third against Assad.
Alvarez remains New York's strongest available home-run threat. He drove in three runs Tuesday and will serve as the designated hitter while Torrens handles the catching duties.
Baty and Melendez give the Mets additional left-handed power. Both receive the platoon advantage against the right-handed Assad, but neither has supplied consistent offensive production throughout the season.
Benge and Ewing add youth and speed near the top of the lineup. Their ability to reach base will determine whether Bichette and Alvarez receive meaningful RBI opportunities.
The Mets enter batting approximately .231 with 84 home runs. Their offense has scored considerably fewer runs than Chicago and becomes even less intimidating without Soto and Lindor.
New York has still received excellent work from its bullpen. Mets relievers own a collective 3.32 ERA, placing the unit among the top five in baseball.
Luke Weaver, Huascar Brazobán, Brooks Raley, Austin Warren, and Devin Williams provide the Mets with multiple late-inning options. That relief advantage gives New York a realistic path to staying close if McLean protects an early lead.
The bullpen's workload must still be considered. Senga recorded only 11 outs Tuesday, forcing the Mets to cover the remainder of the game with their relief staff.
The doubleheader creates another complication. Manager Carlos Mendoza must preserve enough pitching to support Sean Manaea during Wednesday night's second game.
Starting Pitchers and Pitching Matchup
The Cubs will start right-hander Javier Assad, who enters at 5-1 with a 3.89 ERA, approximately a 1.00 WHIP, and 25 strikeouts.
Assad has spent time in both the rotation and bullpen this season. He is 3-1 with an ERA below 4.00 as a starter and has delivered his best pitching since returning from Triple-A Iowa in early June.
The right-hander owns a 1.00 ERA and 0.61 WHIP during June. He has allowed only four hits and two walks across his most recent 12 innings.
Assad has surrendered two runs across his last 11.2 innings as a starter. His command and ability to limit hard contact have improved substantially since his minor-league assignment.
His latest appearance came against Colorado. Assad allowed two runs while working into the sixth inning, although he recorded only one strikeout.
The low strikeout total illustrates the primary limitation in his profile. Assad does not dominate opponents through elite swing-and-miss production.
He has recorded only 25 strikeouts while issuing nine walks. Assad depends on location, changing speeds, ground balls, and Chicago's defense.
That pitch-to-contact approach can be effective against a weakened Mets lineup. Soto and Lindor are unavailable, leaving New York without two of its most disciplined and dangerous hitters.
Assad should also benefit from facing several inexperienced players. Benge and Ewing have limited major-league exposure, while the lower portion of the lineup contains inconsistent contact hitters.
The platoon construction still presents some risk. Benge, Ewing, Young, Baty, and Melendez can all hit from the left side against Assad.
Young provides one of the more difficult matchups because of his combination of plate discipline and left-handed power. Assad must avoid falling behind and becoming overly dependent on pitches inside the strike zone.
Alvarez creates the greatest home-run danger. Assad has to keep his breaking pitches below the zone rather than allowing the Mets designated hitter to extend his arms.
Assad has performed well in previous meetings with New York, carrying a career ERA below 3.00 across five appearances. The current lineup is also weaker than most of the Mets groups he has faced.
The Cubs need at least five or six innings from Assad. Chicago's bullpen worked four innings Tuesday, and the club cannot exhaust every available reliever before the night game.
His recent efficiency provides reason for optimism. Assad has limited walks and baserunners since returning from Iowa, allowing him to complete innings without an elevated pitch count.
The Mets counter with right-hander Nolan McLean, who enters at 4-4 with a 3.67 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 97 strikeouts across 83.1 innings.
McLean owns the stronger overall pitching profile. His 28.2% strikeout rate places him among the league's better swing-and-miss starters.
The right-hander combines a sinker averaging approximately 95 mph with a sweeper, curveball, cutter, and changeup. That deep arsenal allows him to attack both right-handed and left-handed hitters.
McLean is coming off one of his strongest starts of the season. He held Cincinnati to one unearned run on three hits and one walk across seven innings.
He recorded nine strikeouts and threw 101 pitches. The performance represented his third seven-inning outing of the season.
McLean owns a 1.64 ERA across his last four starts. He has improved his fastball command and reduced the long innings that affected several earlier appearances.
Control remains the most important variable. McLean has issued 32 walks and hit nine batters, occasionally creating traffic even when opponents struggle to square up his pitches.
Chicago possesses several hitters capable of forcing him into deep counts. Conforto, Busch, Happ, and Suzuki can refuse breaking pitches outside the zone and wait for fastballs.
The Cubs will also send several left-handed hitters against him. Crow-Armstrong, Conforto, Busch, and Happ can all attack from the left side.
McLean's sinker and sweeper combination has remained effective against both sides of the plate. Left-handed hitters have not enjoyed an automatic advantage against his arsenal.
He faced Chicago once during the 2025 season and recorded 11 strikeouts across 5.1 innings. The Cubs scored five runs, demonstrating both his strikeout ceiling and the risk created when his command becomes inconsistent.
Crow-Armstrong enters as the most dangerous matchup. He is producing elite power and contact numbers during June and has consistently punished pitches in the strike zone.
McLean must also navigate Busch and Suzuki immediately behind him. A walk or hit to Crow-Armstrong can quickly create a run-scoring opportunity for the middle of Chicago's order.
The Cubs are resting several regulars, which makes the lower half of the lineup less threatening. Ramírez and Amaya occupy the seventh and eighth spots, while Swanson has been inconsistent despite Tuesday's four-RBI performance.
McLean has a realistic chance to record six or seven innings. The Mets need that length after using several relievers Tuesday and facing another game Wednesday night.
Game Thesis: Chicago possesses the stronger available offense, but New York owns the more powerful starting-pitcher profile and the better season-long bullpen. McLean's strikeout ability should prevent the Cubs from repeating Tuesday's nine-run performance, while Assad's recent command and the absences of Soto and Lindor should limit the Mets. Chicago has the better chance to produce one decisive extra-base hit, making the Cubs the narrow moneyline preference. The pitching matchup and depleted New York lineup point toward a competitive game that stays below the 8.5-run total.
Moneyline Pick: Chicago Cubs (-118)
Chicago is the preferred moneyline side, although the Cubs should not be treated as a comfortable favourite.
The primary advantage comes from the available lineups. Chicago still starts Crow-Armstrong, Busch, Suzuki, Happ, Hoerner, and Swanson.
New York is without Soto and Lindor during the afternoon game. That removes the two hitters most capable of consistently reaching base and producing extra-base damage.
The Mets must instead depend on Bichette, Alvarez, Baty, Semien, and several inexperienced players. That lineup has a more difficult path to sustained offense against an in-form Assad.
Assad enters with a 1.00 ERA during June and has allowed two runs across his last 11.2 innings. He does not need to dominate through strikeouts if he continues limiting walks and hard contact.
Chicago also enters with superior season-long offensive numbers. The Cubs have scored nearly 60 more runs and hit more home runs than the Mets.
Crow-Armstrong gives Chicago the hottest individual hitter in the matchup. His power, speed, and leadoff position create scoring opportunities from the opening inning.
The McLean matchup keeps the moneyline from becoming the strongest wager. He owns a 3.67 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and has recorded 97 strikeouts.
McLean can neutralize Chicago's lineup for six or seven innings if his command remains sharp. The Mets also hold a meaningful bullpen advantage once both starters exit.
The Cubs' relief staff carries a 4.20 ERA and has already lost several important pitchers. Chicago may be reluctant to use every preferred reliever during the first half of a doubleheader.
The offensive gap still provides Chicago with the narrow overall edge. A final score around 4-3 or 5-3 would give the Cubs a second consecutive victory in the series.
Spread Pick: New York Mets +1.5 (-155)
New York +1.5 is preferable to laying the run line with Chicago. The Mets possess enough pitching quality to keep this game within one run even if the Cubs win outright.
McLean has allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his last four starts. He is also capable of generating strikeouts whenever Chicago places runners on base.
The Mets bullpen provides another reason to take the protection. New York relievers own a 3.32 ERA compared with Chicago's 4.20 mark.
If McLean leaves with the game tied or New York trailing by one run, the Mets can use Weaver, Raley, Brazobán, Warren, or Williams to keep the margin manageable.
Chicago's lineup is also missing Bregman, Shaw, and Kelly. The Cubs remain deeper than New York but are not using their strongest possible batting order.
The afternoon schedule creates additional uncertainty. Both managers must consider the second game when deciding how aggressively to deploy their best relievers.
New York's depleted lineup limits the appeal of its moneyline. The Mets may struggle to produce enough offense to defeat Assad and the Cubs bullpen.
The 1.5-run cushion reduces that requirement. New York can lose 3-2, 4-3, or 5-4 and still cover the run line.
Chicago -1.5 requires the Cubs to both solve McLean and create separation against one of baseball's better bullpens. That is a difficult combination, even at a plus-money return.
⭐ Best Bet - Total Pick: Under 8.5 (+105)
Under 8.5 is the strongest game wager. The original Over recommendation places too much weight on Tuesday's final score and not enough on the different pitching matchup and confirmed lineups.
Tuesday's 15-run game featured a disastrous start from Senga, who entered with an ERA near 9.00 and allowed seven runs across 3.2 innings.
McLean presents a completely different challenge. He owns a 3.67 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and has recorded 97 strikeouts across 83.1 innings.
He enters after allowing one unearned run across seven innings against Cincinnati. McLean has also produced a 1.64 ERA over his last four starts.
Assad supports the Under from the opposite side. He has allowed two runs over his last 11.2 innings and carries a 1.00 ERA during June.
The Mets will not have Soto or Lindor in Game 1. Their lineup instead begins with Benge and Ewing before reaching Bichette, Young, and Alvarez.
Chicago is also resting Bregman, Shaw, and Kelly. The Cubs still possess power but have fewer established hitters in the lower half of the batting order.
Citi Field generally reduces home-run production compared with several other National League parks. Both starters can therefore challenge hitters without every elevated fly ball becoming a home run.
New York's bullpen owns a 3.32 ERA and can protect the Under after McLean exits. The Mets possess several relievers capable of generating strikeouts in high-leverage situations.
Chicago's bullpen creates the greatest concern. Cubs relievers carry an ERA above 4.00, and the staff was forced to cover four innings Tuesday.
The weakened New York lineup reduces the likelihood of a late offensive explosion. Soto and Lindor would normally be the hitters most capable of punishing Chicago's middle relief.
The total also offers a plus-money price. Finals such as 4-3, 5-3, 3-2, or 4-2 would all cash the Under.
A projected score around 4-3 makes Chicago the slight moneyline preference while establishing Under 8.5 as the best overall position.
Top Player Prop Picks
Nolan McLean Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-140 at FanDuel) McLean has recorded 97 strikeouts across 83.1 innings, giving him approximately 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
He needs six strikeouts to clear the listed total. McLean has reached or exceeded that number in nine of his 15 starts.
The right-hander recorded nine strikeouts during his latest performance against Cincinnati. He completed seven innings while allowing only three hits and one walk.
McLean also demonstrated his ceiling against Chicago during the 2025 season. He struck out 11 Cubs across 5.1 innings despite allowing five runs.
Chicago will use several hitters with meaningful swing-and-miss risk. Crow-Armstrong, Conforto, Busch, Suzuki, Happ, Ramírez, Amaya, and Swanson all provide strikeout opportunities.
The Cubs' lower order is particularly favourable. Ramírez and Amaya lack extensive major-league experience, while Swanson has regularly produced elevated strikeout totals.
McLean should also receive enough workload. New York needs him to work deep after using its bullpen Tuesday and facing a second game Wednesday night.
Control represents the primary risk. Walks or extended innings could force McLean from the game before he completes six frames.
His current form, pitch count, and season-long strikeout rate still support six or more. McLean can clear this prop even if Chicago scores several runs against him.
Pete Crow-Armstrong Over 1.5 Total Bases (-110) Crow-Armstrong enters with an 11-game hitting streak and a 24-game on-base streak.
He is batting above .400 during the longer streak and has produced 11 home runs with an OPS above 1.300.
Crow-Armstrong hit his 17th home run Tuesday, launching a three-run shot during Chicago's five-run second inning.
He has now hit five home runs across his last six games and six over his last eight. Few hitters enter Wednesday with a more dangerous power profile.
The total-bases market provides multiple paths to a winning result. One double, triple, or home run would clear the line, as would two singles.
His leadoff position should generate four or five plate appearances. Chicago's strong middle order also increases the chance that New York pitches to him rather than providing unnecessary walks.
McLean is a difficult opposing pitcher and possesses the strikeout ability to neutralize Crow-Armstrong during individual at-bats.
Crow-Armstrong's current contact quality makes him capable of punishing one mistake. His speed also creates opportunities to turn singles into doubles through aggressive baserunning.
The near-even price is preferable to laying a substantial number on a basic one-hit market. Crow-Armstrong's power, speed, and expected volume support Over 1.5 total bases.
Francisco Alvarez Over 1.5 Total Bases (+160) Alvarez enters after driving in three runs during Tuesday's series opener.
He produced an extra-base hit and remained one of New York's few consistent threats while the Mets attempted to overcome an early deficit.
Alvarez will bat fifth as the designated hitter Wednesday. That role allows him to focus entirely on offense while Torrens handles the catching responsibilities.
The absences of Soto and Lindor make Alvarez even more important. New York needs his power to generate offense against Assad and the Chicago bullpen.
Assad has pitched extremely well during June but does not possess an elite strikeout rate. He frequently allows opponents to put the ball in play.
That profile gives Alvarez an opportunity to attack pitches inside the strike zone. One double or home run would immediately clear the prop.
He can also reach the required total through two singles. Alvarez should receive at least four plate appearances if the game remains competitive.
Chicago's bullpen adds value to the later opportunities. The Cubs carry a relief ERA above 4.00 and used multiple relievers Tuesday.
The plus-money price compensates for Alvarez's inconsistent contact rate. His power and central position in the depleted Mets lineup make Over 1.5 total bases the preferred New York hitter prop.
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