New York Mets vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 4/18/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: New York Mets vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Odds/Point Spread: New York (+120) Chicago (-144)

The Chicago Cubs (9-9) welcome the New York Mets (7-12) at Wrigley Field on Saturday. The line on this contest has New York at +120 while Chicago is coming in at -144. The total has been set at 8.5. The starting pitchers are Freddy Peralta and Jameson Taillon.

The Mets have recorded 24 two-baggers as a unit and have hit 14 balls out of the stadium. New York is slugging .331 and have been called out on strikes 156 times, while drawing a walk on 58 occasions. As a unit, the New York Mets are scoring 3.4 runs per game, which has them at 27th in MLB. They have tallied 62 runs batted in as well as 142 hits so far this season, while their average at the plate comes in at .220. They have earned 65 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .286.

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Their K/BB ratio is 2.66 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.27. Mets pitchers have conceded 16 home runs and 79 runs in total (13th in MLB). New York has given up 152 base hits (8.0 per 9 innings) and 73 earned runs. The Mets have compiled a team ERA of 3.83 over the course of the season (10th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 173 hitters. They have walked 65 opposing batters and their FIP is 3.57 as a unit on the year.

The Mets relievers have a save percentage of 50.0% and have come into the game in 8 save situations. They have accumulated 2 saves so far this season and have blown 2 of their 4 save opportunities. The relievers have inherited 16 runners over the course of the season with 50.0% of those players crossing the plate. Mets pitchers have entered the game with players on base 15 times and also have had 21 appearances in high leverage situations. The Mets have dispatched 53 relief pitchers to the mound so far this year. The relief pitchers have racked up 4 holds so far this year (29th in baseball).

The Mets have converted 69.8% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 1,545 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting at 18th in the majors. The Minnesota Twins have amassed 515 putouts thus far, as well as 174 assists and 9 errors. Their fielding rate is holding at .987 which has them sitting 12th in MLB, and they have turned 10 double plays.

Peralta (71-43 career mark) has a FIP of 3.54 and he has gone up against 3,942 hitters in the major leagues. He has given up 710 base knocks (6.7 hits per 9 innings) and has had 368 walks. His ERA is 3.59 (380 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.132. Peralta has taken the mound for 952 innings and has tallied 1,178 strikeouts in his MLB career.

The Chicago Cubs have earned a team OBP of .341 as well as a team batting average of .248 on the campaign. They have struck out on 160 instances (14th in MLB) and have earned a total of 153 base hits. Chicago has compiled 19 home runs this year and 84 runs batted in. The Cubs hold a team slugging % of .386 and they average 5.22 runs per game (7th in MLB). They have put up 28 doubles, while walking 85 times as well as notching 94 runs.

The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 75 runs this year while holding a team ERA of 3.88 (69 earned runs surrendered). They have allowed 22 home runs and they surrender 4.22 runs per 9 innings (11th in the league). The Cubs are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.150 in addition to having a FIP of 4.24 as a squad for the year. Their strikeout to walk ratio comes in at 8.70 (155 strikeouts vs 56 bases on balls). They rank 2nd in the league as a staff in total hits surrendered with 128.

With 7 save situations, the Cubs have 2 holds in addition to 3 blown saves. Chicago has had relief pitchers enter the game in 5 save opportunities and they have converted 2 saves. Chicago relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 26.9% out of their 26 inherited base runners. Their relief pitchers have taken the field 14 times in high leverage situations in addition to 19 occasions with base runners. They sit at 29th in the league with a save rate of 40.0%, and they have sent 55 relievers onto the diamond over the course of the season.

In 1,440 innings on the diamond, the Cubs have earned a defensive efficiency of 73.1% (2nd in professional baseball). The Chicago Cubs have gotten 14 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .988 (10th in MLB). The Cubs have recorded 159 assists, 8 errors and have a total of 480 putouts over the course of the season.

So far in his career, Taillon has given up 1,197 base knocks while he has totaled 1,090 K's in 1,253 innings. He has allowed 541 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.195 and being the owner of a FIP of 3.8. His strikeout to walk ratio is 3.63 and he has gone up against 5,199 batters so far in his pro baseball career. Taillon (82-61 career record) has earned a 3.89 earned run average while allowing 8.6 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take New York (+120)

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