CHICAGO (Interstat) — The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs will wrap up a pivotal three-game series at Wrigley Field on Thursday, with both clubs fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive in the final week of the regular season.

The Cubs (88-69) took the second game of the series 7-2 on Wednesday, bouncing back from a 9-7 loss on Tuesday. Chicago holds a narrow lead in the National League wild-card race. The Mets (81-76) arrive having lost four of their last six and face a steeper climb to secure a playoff spot.

New York will send left-hander Shota Imanaga (9-7, 3.98 ERA) to the mound. Imanaga will be pitching on the road against the team he began his major league career with in 2024. The Cubs’ starter had not been announced at the time of publication.

The Mets’ offense, which exploded for nine runs on Tuesday behind home runs from Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor, will look to replicate that production. The clubs have split their last four meetings.

Projections are split on the outcome. Interstat’s game simulator predicts a 5-3 Mets victory, while its ELO rating system gives the Cubs a 55.2% chance to win. The Mets are installed as a slight pregame favorite with a spread of -1.5, and the over/under is set at 7.5 runs.

First pitch is scheduled for Thursday afternoon with cloudy skies and a game-time temperature of 66 degrees forecast. Following the series finale, the Mets travel to Miami for a three-game set, while the Cubs host the St. Louis Cardinals.