Shota Imanaga has been inconsistent for most of the season. In September, he’s allowed three earned runs in each of his four starts, owning a 4.91 ERA. He’s also allowed a combined five home runs in his last two starts. Nolan McLean has yet to allow more than two earned runs all seven of his starts thus far, with the Mets winning five of those games as well. New York cannot afford to lose any more games this season as the Reds are only a half game back of the final Wild Card spot in the NL.

Shota Imanaga has a 4.01 ERA with a .250 opponent batting average in September, which is higher than his overall .211 average against for the season. He’s getting fatigued, and the Cubs need him for the playoffs. The Mets will start Nolan McLean, who has allowed two ER or fewer in all seven starts this season. He’s holding opponents to a scant .195 batting average in 42.2 IP. Chicago has never seen McLean, while the Mets have a .388 xwOBA in 29 plate appearances against Imanaga. New York’s three and four batters went 0-8 combined in yesterday’s non-effort as the Mets could muster up just four hits. I like the road team in this spot.