The Chicago Cubs host the New York Mets on Saturday, April 18. First pitch from Wrigley Field is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on Marquee.
The Cubs are favored at -112 on the moneyline and are +1.5 (-194) on the run line. The Mets, meanwhile, are -104 on the moneyline and -1.5 (+160) on the run line. The over/under sits at 8.5 total runs.
Find my MLB SGP and Mets vs Cubs parlay picks below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Mets vs Cubs Predictions, Pick
- Mets to Score 1st (-155)
- Freddy Peralta Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-180)
Parlay Odds: +138
Mets vs Cubs Odds
| Mets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +160 | 8.5 102o / -124u | -104 |
| Cubs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Run Line | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -194 | 8.5 102o / -124u | -112 |
Mets vs Cubs Predictions, Pick: Same-Game Parlay
Mets to Score 1st (-155)
It's been an up-and-down 2026 campaign for Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta in his first year in the Big Apple. The former Brewers right-hander has posted a 3.86 ERA over his first three outings of the season.
The Mets’ starter has been extremely consistent over the course of his career, recording a sub-4 ERA in six consecutive seasons.
Peralta will look to build upon his rather unpredictable start to the season against a Cubs lineup with a ton of firepower.
Having previously played for Milwaukee in the NL Central, Peralta has faced most of this Cubs lineup, against whom he has had extraordinary success. Against 205 total batters versus Chicago, the Mets’ ace has allowed just 35 hits, allowing just a .171 batting average.
In addition to his overall efficiency against the Cubs’ lineup, Peralta has recorded a remarkable 72 strikeouts in the process.
Given the experience and excellent head-to-head history that the Mets’ 29-year-old has versus the Cubs, I'll be taking more of a unique approach for the first leg of our SGP, backing the Mets to score the first run of the game at Wrigley Field on DraftKings.
Freddy Peralta Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-180)
For the second leg of our SGP, I'll attack the same betting angle, which is for Peralta to continue his dominance over the Cubs and shine on Saturday afternoon.
The Mets’ ace has recorded an incredible K-rate against this Cubs lineup, striking out nearly 37% of the batters he has faced.
Over the course of his career, Peralta has proven to be an elite strikeout pitcher and has also struck out seven hitters twice in his first four outings of the season.
For a Chicago lineup that is already very susceptible to strikeout pitchers, I feel great backing Peralta to exceed 5.5 strikeouts with some juice ahead of Saturday’s contest.
- Mets to Score 1st (-155)
- Freddy Peralta Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-180)
Parlay Odds: +138
Bo Bichette Over 1.5 HRR
For anyone looking for additional betting value, I'll be targeting some offensive player prop markets — specifically, the HRR market (Hits + Runs + RBIs).
Like Peralta, Jameson Tallion has a ton of experience against this Mets’ lineup as well, considering he has pitched in the National League in eight of his 10 seasons in the Majors.
While Tallion has had some success versus a few of New York’s hitters, first-year Met Bo Bichette has clobbered the Cubs’ right-hander.
In 24 career at-bats against Tallion, Bichette has nine hits — four of which were doubles, in addition to two RBIs.
I expect the Mets lineup to find success despite playing on the road, so targeting Bichette to exceed his 1.5 HRR total is a great approach to finding further value in this matchup.
Mets vs Cubs SGP Building Blocks
- Mets to Score 1st (-155)
- Freddy Peralta Over 5.5 Strikeouts (-180)
- Bo Bichette Over 1.5 HRR (-118)
Parlay Odds: +290
Mets F5 Moneyline
Given my previous analysis, it should come as no surprise that I'm targeting the Mets to win the first five innings on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field.
Though I don't typically play four legs in the same contest, the Mets F5 is another betting angle you can take for even greater value.
Tallion is in atrocious form to start the season, recording a 4.86 ERA over his first two starts in 2026.
Mets vs Cubs Long-Shot Contrarian Parlay
- Mets to Score 1st (-155)
- Freddy Peralta Over 5.5 Ks (-180)
- Bo Bichette Over 1.5 Hits + Runs + RBIs (-118)
- Mets F5 ML (-110)
Parlay Odds: +380
