Chicago @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2009 ) Chi. Cubs 2, NY Mets 4

When the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets square off Monday night for the first of their four-game series at Citi Field, it will pit two high-priced and high-profiled National League teams who have struggled during the early part of the 2010 season.The Cubs (5-7) are coming off a home series against the lowly Houston Astros, where they dropped two of three - including Sunday’s 3-2 setback in 10 innings. Chicago entered the 2010 campaign as a legitimate contender for the NL Central crown, but have not played up to the high expectations to date.The Cubs will turn to young right-hander Randy Wells to see if he can stop the team’s two-game slide. A native of Illinois, the 26-year-old Wells has pitched well this season, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.92 ERA in two starts. Wells, who won 12 games last year as a rookie, has developed three solid pitches and could very well be emerging as one of the top young hurlers in the league.The Mets (4-8) dropped the series finale in St. Louis Sunday night, a day after winning the 20-inning marathon against the Cardinals. New York has yet to win a series this season, the longest the team has gone without winning a series since 1992.New York will turn to young lefty Jon Niese to see if he could give the struggling team a bit of a jump. Niese was mediocre at best in his first start against the Florida Marlins, then was roughed up last week after allowing five runs and nine hits in a loss to Colorado. Niese has a 0-1 record with a 6.55 ERA in the early going.The career matchup also favors Wells, who has a 1-0 mark with a 1.50 ERA against the Mets. Niese’s record against the Cubs is 0-1 with an inflated 18.00 ERA.Chicago will feature a mostly right-handed lineup against Niese, with at least six of the regulars batting from the right side. Marlon Byrd, who has looked good in recent games, was told by manager Lou Piniella that he’s being moved to the leadoff slot. The Cubs will face lefties in three of the four games in New York, with Oliver Perez and Johan Santana slated to start for the Mets in the series.Monday night could mark the major league debut of Mets first base phenom Ike Davis. The Mets designated Mike Jacobs for assignment Sunday in order to call up Tobi Stoner to give the team pitching depth after the 20-inning game Saturday. Stoner was called to duty right away, pitching two innings Sunday night.But the 24-year-old Davis has been hitting the ball well in Triple A Buffalo, batting .364 with two homers. With Jacobs out of the picture, the Mets could very well call Davis and insert him in the starting lineup on Monday against the right-handed pitching Wells.The Mets’ hitting has been atrocious over the last six games. Even Jeff Francoeur - who collected at least one hit in the Mets’ first 10 games - has gone sour over the last two contests, failing to get a hit in his last 11 at-bats.