Chicago Cubs vs. New York Mets preview, Monday 6/14, 6:10 CT

There’s a forecast of rain and possible storms in the New York City area this evening. So, here’s the local radar to keep handy:

Monday notes...

• THE KRAKEN, NON-SEATTLE VARIETY: Craig Kimbrel is the first Cub to record the save in four straight team games in over 20 years. Previously, Jeff Fassero did it from April 10-14, 2001 (H/T: STATS Inc.). It is the first time Kimbrel has recorded saves three straight days since April 15-17, 2017 vs. the Rays, while a member of the Red Sox.
• METS STREAKING: The Cubs last played at Citi Field August 29, 2019, and have won each of their last seven games at the Mets’ home park since May 31, 2018. That’s tied for the Cubs’ longest winning streak against the Mets in NYC, also done May 22-September 18, 1991.
• METS DOMINATED: The Cubs are 17-3 in their last 20 regular season games against the Mets dating to September 12, 2017, and have won the last seven since June 23, 2019, including the three-game sweep of the Mets at Wrigley Field from April 20-22.
• JOC POP: Joc Pederson, last nine games: .281/.281/.813 (9-for-32), two doubles, five home runs, eight runs scored.

Here are today’s particulars.

Cubs lineup:

Mets lineup:

Jake Arrieta, RHP vs. David Peterson, LHP

USA TODAY Sports

USA TODAY NETWORK

Jake Arrieta had a six-start stretch from April 30 to June 4 where he posted an 8.28 ERA, a 1.840 WHIP and allowed nine home runs in 25 innings. Yikes. That included some time spent on the injured list with a thumb abrasion, which could have affected his grip.

In his last start against the Padres in San Diego, he seemed to recover his previous performance and threw five strong innings, striking out six.

He had a similar start vs. the Mets April 20 at Wrigley Field: five innings, one run allowed. Looking for more of the same this evening.

The Cubs hit David Peterson pretty well April 21 at Wrigley Field: six runs (three earned) in 3⅓ innings.

Since then, Peterson has had a couple of good outings but a lot of bad ones. Last four starts: 9.88 ERA, 2.122 WHIP, three home runs in 13⅔ innings.

The Cubs in general have hit lefthanders very well this year: .761 OPS, third-best among NL teams vs. LHP, and they are 13-5 vs. LH starters in 2021. That would seem to bode well for tonight.

Today’s game is on Marquee Sports Network. Here’s a list of providers currently carrying Marquee. It’s also on ESPN (full national broadcast, no blackouts).

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Mets site Amazin’ Avenue. If you do go there to interact with Mets fans, please be respectful, abide by their individual site rules and serve as a good representation of Cub fans in general and BCB in particular.

The 2021 Game Thread procedure will be a bit different than previous years. It will be similar to what we’ve used for Spring Training.

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, titled “Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of week/date) game threads.” It will contain every post related to that particular game, including the First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread, as well as the recap when it’s published. The recap will also live on the front page as a separate post.

You will also be able to find the preview, First Pitch Thread and the overflow thread in the box marked “Chicago Cubs Game Threads” at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). The StoryStream for each game can also be found in that section.

The First Pitch thread will post at five minutes before game time, then an overflow thread at 90 minutes after the scheduled game time.

Discuss amongst yourselves.