Cubs vs. Mets prediction and odds for Wednesday, Aug. 9 (Fade Mets’ bullpen)

The Chicago Cubs and New York Mets play the rubber match of their three-game series on Wednesday night after the Cubbies pulled out a 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Chicago is now ahead of the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Central division following that win and is just 1.5 games back of the Milwaukee Brewers for the division lead.

Kyle Hendricks (4-6, 3.98 ERA) gets the ball for the Cubbies on Wednesday against Mets lefty David Peterson (3-7, 5.65 ERA).

Peterson hasn’t been in the rotation for the Mets until recently, tossing just three innings in his last outing. He allowed just one hit to the Baltimore Orioles in that game, but the Mets lost 10-3.

Could that be a sign of things to come on Wednesday? First, let’s break down the latest odds:

The Mets decided to sell at the deadline, moving Justin Verland, Max Scherzer and closer David Robertson in three separate deals. That has left the team’s pitching staff rather thin, and it has also exposed a bullpen that has a 4.22 ERA on the season.

It’s likely that the bullpen will be called upon a bunch in this game, as Peterson is still working back to getting stretched out as a starter at the Major League level.

Chicago, who has been hot on offense over the last month, ranking second in OPS, should be able to give Hendricks the run support he needs to win this game.

The Cubs veteran right-hander was knocked around by the No. 1 offense in baseball, the Atlanta Braves, in his last outing, but he’s been pretty solid in 2023.

Hendricks has allowed three or fewer earned runs in 11 of his 14 starts in 2023, and the Mets are an easy opponent. New York is 27th in MLB in OPS over the last 30 days.

I simply can’t trust New York’s bullpen to hold up enough in this game. So, bet on the Cubbies to take the series on Wednesday night.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.