CHICAGO — The Mets are often down, but they never seem to be out of the race.

The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs will play the rubber match of their three-game set at Wrigley Field on Thursday, September 25. There have been plenty of crooked numbers put up on the scoreboard through the first two games, and my Mets vs. Cubs predictions and top MLB picks are calling for more of the same in the series finale tonight.

New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean turned in a gritty showing during the team's 8-5 win over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night.

Matt Shaw homered and had three hits, Michael Busch also went deep and the Chicago Cubs ended a season-high five-game losing streak with a 10-3 rout of the New York Mets.

THE NICO FILES: Nico Hoerner’s three-hit game Tuesday was his third this month. Nico’s last 27 games since Aug. 23: .358/.403/.514 (39-for-109) with nine doubles, a triple, two home runs, 11 RBI, six stolen bases, eight walks and 25 runs scored.

The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs finish up their three-game set on Thursday night at Wrigley Field. The Mets won the series opener 9-7, but fell behind early

Preview the Sept. 25 matchup between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.

The Chicago Cubs were still evaluating the extent of starter Cade Horton's back injury, leaving the National League Rookie of the Year candidate's status for the wild-card playoff series in question.