Chicago @ New York preview
Citi Field
Last Meeting ( May 19, 2013 ) NY Mets 4, Chi. Cubs 3
Although his team is having its troubles at the plate, David Wright is doing his best to pick up the slack. Wright will look to ignite the New York Mets' sputtering offense on Friday when the club faces the Chicago Cubs in the opener of a three-game set at Citi Field. Wright collected three hits in Thursday's 2-1 loss to St. Louis and is 11-for-28 in his last six games.
Former Cub Marlon Byrd homered for the second straight contest, but the Mets suffered their eighth loss in 10 outings. Chicago isn't faring much better, although it did record its third win in 11 games with a 6-5 triumph in 14 innings over Cincinnati on Thursday. Starlin Castro returned to the No. 2 spot in the order and went 3-for-7 with two runs scored - a vast improvement from his recent 4-for-48 performance.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet (Chicago), SNY (New York)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Edwin Jackson (2-8, 5.76 ERA) vs. Mets RH Shaun Marcum (0-7, 4.96)
Jackson snapped a three-game losing skid with a brilliant performance versus Pittsburgh on Sunday. The 29-year-old yielded one run on four hits and struck out eight in seven innings. Jackson fell to 1-2 in his career against the Mets despite recording a quality start in a 3-2 loss on May 17.
Marcum can't buy a break this season, but he does own a 4-0 career mark versus the Cubs. The 31-year-old suffered a hard-luck loss in his last outing after yielding one run on five hits in eight relief innings versus Miami on Saturday. Marcum has struck out 30 batters in his last four outings, but is 0-3 in that stretch.
WALK-OFFS
1. Wright is 4-for-13 with a home run in his career versus Jackson.
2. Cubs RF Nate Schierholtz is riding a six-game hitting streak - with five extra-base hits in his last four contests.
3. New York won two of the three meetings at Chicago this season, although the Cubs outscored the Mets 13-9 in the series.
PREDICTION: Cubs 2, Mets 1