Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets preview, Friday 6/1, 6:10 CT

Random, and likely meaningless (but fun!) numbers of the day... Cubs record when allowing a specific number of runs, so far in 2018:

0 (7-0)
1 (3-2)
2 (7-2)
3 (3-2)
4 (3-4)
5 (3-6)
6 (2-3)
7 (1-0)
8 (0-2)
9 (0-0)
10 (1-1)
11 (0-1)

The only one that looks really odd in there is the team record when allowing four runs, you probably should have a winning mark when doing that, especially when overall the pitching staff is second-best in the league at allowing runs (195) and the hitters are second-best in the league at scoring runs (277). As noted above, kind of random, and this might even out over a full season.

Also interesting that the Cubs are 2-4 when allowing seven or more runs. Comparison point: the Red Sox, with the best record in baseball at 39-17, are 1-7 when allowing seven or more runs.

And, the Cubs are tied for the major-league lead with seven shutouts (Dodgers, Pirates are the other teams with seven blankings by the pitching staff).

Lastly, the Cubs’ run differential of +82 is the best in the National League (by a lot, the Braves are second at +59), and third in the major leagues to the Red Sox (+87) and Astros (+125).

If the Cubs can keep up that differential pace through the entire season, they’d wind up at +251. That would be just one run less than the 2016 WS team had in run differential.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Mets lineup:

Tyler Chatwood, RHP vs. Zack Wheeler, RHP

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The less said about Tyler Chatwood’s last start, the better. (Does that sound familiar?)

All we can hope is that he’s figured out how to not walk so many hitters.

He made two starts against the Mets last year, and trust me, you do not want to see the boxscores. (ERA: 19.06. Enough said?)

Cross your fingers.

Zack Wheeler was traded to the Mets from the Giants in 2011 for Carlos Beltran, and his career has been pretty much filled with injury, so much so that he missed two entire major-league seasons (2015 and 2016).

The Cubs hit him hard last year, June 12, 2017 at Citi Field, scoring eight runs before the second inning was over, including home runs by Anthony Rizzo and Ian Happ.

Based on the results against tonight’s opponent for both starting pitchers, this game should end up 15-13. Because baseball, it’ll probably be a 1-0 game.

Today’s game is on NBC Sports Chicago Plus.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

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The 2018 Game Thread procedure will be the same as the one used during 2017. Here's how it works.

You'll find the game preview posted separately on the front page, two hours before game time (90 minutes for some early day games following night games).

At the same time, a StoryStream containing the preview will also post on the front page. The First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads will be published in that stream, as well as the recap. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post, and at the time I write the recap I will rename the stream "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread, all the overflow threads and recap in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in the game's StoryStream as noted above.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.