Game Details

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Date

Friday, April 17, 2026

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First Pitch

2:20 PM ET

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Venue

Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL

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TV/Stream

MLB.TV

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Series

Game 1 of 3 (2026 Regular Season)

Betting Odds

💰 Live Markets

New York Mets

+119

Chicago Cubs

-143

Moneyline via VegasInsider consensus (last updated April 16, 2026). Run line shown at standard ±1.5. Over/Under not available from a verified source at time of publication. Always confirm current lines at your sportsbook before wagering.

Preview

The Chicago Cubs open a critical three-game homestand Friday afternoon when they welcome the stumbling New York Mets to Wrigley Field for the first of seven scheduled meetings in 2026. First pitch is set for 2:20 PM ET on MLB.TV.

On paper, the matchup couldn't be more lopsided heading in. The Cubs (9-9) have won back-to-back games and are sitting comfortably at .500 in the NL Central. The Mets (7-12), meanwhile, limp into Chicago riding an eight-game losing streak—the longest active skid in the majors—having been swept by the Dodgers in Los Angeles this week in a highly publicized billion-dollar series. Juan Soto remains sidelined on the IL, the bullpen is depleted, and Kodai Senga is pitching like a man in desperate need of a reset. The Cubs will send Eduardo Cabrera to the mound, who has been one of the pleasant surprises of the early season, sporting a sparkling 1.62 ERA. Everything points toward a Chicago win—but baseball has a way of humbling the obvious.

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Chicago Cubs Analysis

The Cubs are quietly building something in April 2026. After a wobbly start, Chicago has found its footing and enters Friday's series opener winners of two straight, following a dominant two-game takedown of the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park earlier this week.

Pitching anchor: Eduardo Cabrera gets the ball Friday and has been exceptional through his first few outings. In 16.2 innings pitched, the right-hander has compiled a 1-0 record with a 1.62 ERA and 1.14 WHIP—numbers that place him among the NL's early-season starters to watch. He has not allowed a single home run in 2026, a remarkable feat that will be tested against a Mets lineup that can still generate power on a given day. His control (13 walks) is something to monitor, but the results have been undeniable.

Offensive surge: The Cubs offense has been one of the more potent units in the National League, batting a collective .248 with a .341 OBP and .386 slugging percentage. They've scored 94 runs through 18 games, good for an average of more than five runs per contest. Second baseman Nico Hoerner delivered a career-high five RBIs in the most recent Cubs win over Philadelphia, continuing to be one of the most underrated producers in the league. Michael Busch—who had endured a brutal 0-for-30 slump—broke out with a clutch tying single that helped Chicago overcome a five-run deficit against Pittsburgh on Sunday, a performance that speaks to the team's mental resilience.

Ace-in-waiting: Left-hander Shota Imanaga was sensational in his last start, punching out 11 batters across six innings against the Phillies. Imanaga is not on the mound Friday, but his dominance this week illustrates the depth of a Cubs rotation that has a legitimate top-of-the-rotation arm capable of shutting down any opponent.

Injury concern: The Cubs bullpen has taken some hits. Hunter Harvey, Trent Thornton, Jeff Brigham, and Jordan Wicks are all on the injured list, while starters Jaxon Wiggins and Matthew Boyd are also unavailable. Manager Craig Counsell will need to manage his relievers carefully—especially in a three-game series with games on back-to-back days. If Cabrera goes deep into Friday's game, that would be a significant benefit heading into the weekend.

Bottom line: Chicago comes in hot, at home, with a legitimately excellent starting pitcher. The Cubs own a favorable pitching matchup, a superior offensive profile, and the home-field advantage of Wrigley Field on a spring afternoon.

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New York Mets Analysis

Eight straight losses. Let that sink in. The New York Mets have not won a game since April 9, and the slide has included drubbings by the Arizona Diamondbacks at home, a three-game sweep by the Athletics, and a demoralizing three-game trip to Los Angeles in which Shohei Ohtani reminded everyone watching exactly why the Dodgers are the class of baseball.

The Senga problem: Kodai Senga will try to right the ship for the Mets on Friday. It has not been a smooth start to the season for the Japanese right-hander. Senga carries a 0-2 record with a 7.07 ERA and 1.71 WHIP through just 14.0 innings. He has struck out 17 batters—showing the swing-and-miss stuff remains in there—but has also issued 19 walks and surrendered 7 home runs. The command issues are alarming. Against a Cubs offense that is hitting well and has slugged 19 home runs as a team, Senga must find the strike zone or this afternoon could unravel quickly. A short outing from Senga would also stress a Mets bullpen already missing Nate Lavender, Brandon Waddell, and Joey Gerber to the IL.

Offensive woes: New York's bats have been a major disappointment. The team is batting just .220 as a unit—far below the league average—with a .286 OBP and a .331 slugging percentage. They have scored just 65 runs in 19 games, averaging barely more than three per contest. The absence of Juan Soto (10-day IL, expected back April 21) is impossible to overstate. Soto is not just their best hitter; he is their lineup's engine, and without him protecting any other hitter, opposing pitchers have been able to work carefully around whoever is hitting cleanup.

The bright spot: Francisco Alvarez continues to be New York's most productive offensive player. The young catcher leads the team in batting average (.271), on-base percentage (.386), and slugging (.542). Alvarez is the one Mets position player consistently producing, and if the Mets are to steal Game 1 in Chicago, they will need another excellent outing from him.

Jared Young joins the IL list: In more bad news for New York, Jared Young was placed on the IL this week with a meniscus tear, expected to miss six to eight weeks. The injuries are piling up on a team that was widely expected to compete for an NL East title in 2026. Entering Friday's game, the Mets sit five games back of Atlanta in the NL East at 7-12. The window to salvage this early stretch is narrowing.

Bottom line: The Mets need a reset win badly, and road games against confident opponents do not typically provide them. The pitching matchup, the offensive differential, and the current momentum all favor Chicago.

Head-to-Head & Betting Trends

Friday's game is the first meeting between the Cubs and Mets in 2026. Chicago is scheduled to host New York for a three-game series (April 17–19) before the teams reconvene at Citi Field for four games in late June (June 22–25).

Betting trends:

The Cubs opened as -136 favorites on this game; the line has moved to -143 as of Thursday, indicating consistent public and sharp money on Chicago.
The Mets opened at +113 and are now available at +119 at the consensus, meaning New York is being bet against across the board.
The market's move aligns with the obvious narrative: a surging Cubs starter against Senga's early-season woes.
ESPN Analytics gives the Cubs a 66.9% win probability for this game, with the Mets at 33.1%.
Teams on eight-game losing streaks historically cover as underdogs at a rate slightly above average, but road games against competent starting pitchers are a difficult environment for a bounce-back win.

FAQ

Who are the starting pitchers for Cubs vs. Mets on April 17, 2026?

The Chicago Cubs will start right-hander Eduardo Cabrera (1-0, 1.62 ERA). The New York Mets will counter with Kodai Senga (0-2, 7.07 ERA).

Where is the Cubs vs. Mets game being played?

Game 1 of this three-game series is being held at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, with a 2:20 PM ET first pitch.

Is Juan Soto playing for the Mets today?

No. Juan Soto is on the 10-day injured list and is not expected to return until approximately April 21, 2026.

How long is the Mets' current losing streak?

Entering Friday, the Mets have lost eight consecutive games—the longest active losing streak in Major League Baseball.

What is the Cubs' current record and standing in 2026?

The Cubs are 9-9 (.500) on the season, sitting 1.5 games behind the NL Central leaders as of April 17, 2026. They have won their last two games. ---