Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Cubs play a three-game series in Chicago starting on Friday afternoon...
5 things to watch
Offensively bad
During their eight-game losing streak, the Mets have scored 12 runs, which is almost impossible to believe.
In those eight contests, all without Juan Soto, New York has been shut out three times while being held to one or two runs on four occasions.
Against the Dodgers earlier this week, it was starting pitchers Justin Wrobleski (who tossed a career-high eight innings), Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shohei Ohtani who gave New York fits.
And it's not like New York has been hitting into much hard luck.
Their hitters have often been in between while missing hittable fastballs, expanding the zone, failing to work the count, and hitting the ball on the ground at an alarming rate.
"We’re not dictating at-bats," Carlos Mendoza said after Wednesday's loss. "Getting beat by fastballs even though there was some good fastballs by Ohtani today -- we swung through a lot of them today. We have to be able to put pressure and be in attack mode. Right now, understanding what guys are going through is contagious. At the same time, nobody is feeling sorry for us. We got to be able to dictate at-bats."
Will Kodai Senga rebound?
Senga looked fantastic in his first two starts of the season, allowing just four runs on nine hits in 11.2 innings while striking out 17.
His last start was different, as the right-hander was touched up by the A's to the tune of seven runs on eight hits (including two home runs) in 2.1 innings.
There was some poor fielding behind Senga against the A's, but his stuff wasn't nearly as good as it was in his first two starts.
Senga generated just six swings and misses on 72 pitches against the A's after getting 12 on 88 pitches against the Giants on April 5 and 17 on 92 pitches against the Cardinals on March 31.
Meanwhile, Senga's average four-seam fastball velocity has been ticking down. It was 97.4 mph against the Cards, 96.0 against the Giants, and 95.6 against the A's.
Carson Benge is looking more comfortable
After going through an 0-for-22 funk that led some to muse about a potential demotion that David Stearns quickly shot down, Benge has started to look more like the hitter he was in spring training.
Benge has hit safely in five of his last six games, and reached base safely in seven of his last eight.
Against the Dodgers on Wednesday, Benge ripped a double and had a would-be single (on a liner to left field) that was turned into a fielder's choice when Francisco Alvarez got tied up between first base and second base and was forced out.
Benge finding a groove would be a big development for a Mets team that is dealing with huge slumps by Brett Baty and Mark Vientos, and underperformance from most of their other regulars.
Chicago's starting pitching depth is being tested
The Cubs are still without Justin Steele, who underwent UCL surgery early last season.
In 2026, they have lost Cade Horton for the year due to elbow surgery and been without Matthew Boyd, who is working his way back from a biceps issue.
But Chicago has patched things together, due in part to the offseason trade that brought them Edward Cabrera.
Against the Mets, the Cubs will send out Cabrera on Friday, Jameson Taillon on Saturday, and Javier Assad on Sunday.
Cabrera was hit a bit against the Pirates in his last start, but has been tremendous overall, with a 1.62 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 16.2 innings over his first three starts.
Pete Crow-Armstrong is going through it
It has been a struggle offensively for PCA since he blew the doors off to start 2025, in a year where he wound up smashing 31 homers.
Over the final two months of last season, Crow-Armstrong slashed just .188/.237/.295 with four home runs in 200 plate appearances.
So far this season, he is hitting .236/.276/.306 with one home run in 72 at-bats.
Crow-Armstrong has been a bit better recently, though, with five hits in his last 14 at-bats.
Defensively, he remains one of the best center fielders in baseball, rating in the 99th percentile in OAA.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Bichette is hitting .292 with a .346 OBP since April 3.
Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?
Freddy Peralta
Since allowing four runs on Opening Day, Peralta has a 2.81 ERA in 16.0 innings over his last three starts, allowing 10 hits while striking out 18.
Which Cubs player will be a thorn in the Mets' side?
Alex Bregman
Bregman carries a six-game hitting streak into the series.