Get ready, Wrigleyville. The ivy is green, the breeze is blowing in, and the Chicago Cubs are set to host a classic National League showdown. This week's homestand has a distinctly old-school NL East flavor, kicking off with a series against the New York Mets before the Philadelphia Phillies come to town. It's a throwback schedule that feels plucked straight from the 1970s or '80s, and it presents a crucial opportunity for the Cubs to establish dominance at the Friendly Confines, where they currently hold a 4-5 record.

For the visiting Mets, the 2025 season has opened like a nightmare. Despite the calendar still reading April, an eight-game losing streak has cast a long shadow over Queens. The offseason blueprint under President of Baseball Operations David Stearns, which emphasized defensive upgrades and a lineup overhaul, has shown early cracks. Key newcomers, aside from Luis Robert Jr., are struggling at the plate, while the pitching staff is searching for consistency beyond ace Kodai Senga. Even a reliable bullpen arm like Devin Williams has stumbled, turning potential close games into lopsided affairs. Simply put, optimism is in short supply for a team trying to find its footing.

This series also marks a historic milestone in a long-running rivalry. The Cubs' next victory over the Mets will be their 400th all-time win against them since the teams first met in 1962. While Chicago holds a narrow edge in the win column (399-379 with two ties), the cumulative run differential over 780 games is astonishingly close, with the Mets outscoring the Cubs by just seven total runs. At Wrigley Field, the Cubs have historically held the advantage, boasting a .541 winning percentage. As these two historic franchises clash again, every pitch carries the weight of that decades-long, razor-thin competition.