The New York Mets will be looking to rebound as they square off against the Chicago Cubs at their friendly confines of Wrigley Field. Kodai Senga was pushed back a day following the Mets’ bruising defeat, and he’ll be tasked with facing Marcus Stroman, the Cubs’ hurler. Stroman and the Cubs are listed as slight -114 favorites, with a decidedly low total of 7, which opener at 6.5 runs, hinting at a pitcher-friendly day in the Windy City.

Senga’s recent performances have been a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, his stuff is electric, and on his best days, he can be untouchable. However, he has been prone to losing command and loading up the bases, which creates a volatile, hit-or-miss situation. His performance will be a critical factor for the Mets in this game.

The Cubs have Stroman on their side, who has proven effective at keeping the ball in the yard with a strong knack for inducing grounders. His style might play well in the conditions forecasted for this game – it’s expected to be in the 50s at first pitch with 20-mile-per-hour winds blowing in from center field.

Despite the low total, New York will need to show up at the plate, which they failed to do in the last game. Singles and doubles can still drive in runs, and that might be the key approach given the challenging conditions at Wrigley.

The Cubs, with arguably the better hitting lineup and Stroman’s groundball tendencies, are in a favorable position. But this game may well turn on which version of Senga shows up for the Mets. Either way, this matchup looks set for an intriguing low-scoring battle.