Miami Marlins @ Chicago Cubs - May 13, 2025

As the Miami Marlins gear up to face the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, the stage is set for an intriguing matchup. Both teams are looking for a victory, but recent trends and statistics suggest that the Cubs might have the upper hand in this contest.

Starting on the mound for Miami is Valente Bellozo. Despite his promising 3.50 ERA, his win-loss record of 0-2 indicates some struggles in converting solid outings into victories. His strikeout rate matches that of his opponent at 7.9 strikeouts per nine innings, which shows he has the capability to miss bats. However, with an inflated ERA of 5.9, it suggests he’s been prone to giving up runs when it matters most.

On the other side, we have Ben Brown taking the hill for Chicago. With a record of 3-3 and a slightly better ERA at approximately 4.0, Brown has shown resilience this season despite some inconsistency in performance. His ability to keep hitters off balance will be crucial against a Marlins lineup that has struggled offensively lately.

When we delve deeper into team stats, it’s clear that Chicago holds several advantages over Miami. The Cubs average nearly six runs per game (5.97) compared to Miami’s modest output of just over four runs (4.26). Additionally, Chicago boasts a batting average of .250 and an impressive on-base percentage slugging percentage of around 75%. In contrast, Miami’s numbers trail behind with a batting average of .242 and only about 68% on-base slugging percentage.

Furthermore, while both teams faced off recently where Chicago emerged victorious with a scoreline of 5-2, this trend hints at potential challenges ahead for Miami as they look to turn their fortunes around against one of their division rivals.

Looking at recent performances also sheds light on why oddsmakers opened with Chicago as -225 favorites—a significant line reflecting their current form and home-field advantage at Wrigley Field where they’ve historically performed well.

Given all these factors—the starting pitching matchups along with offensive capabilities—it’s reasonable to predict that not only will the Cubs likely take home another victory tonight against Miami but also anticipate an OVER outcome given both teams’ recent scoring patterns and tendencies.

In summary: I expect the Cubs will emerge victorious tonight due to their superior offensive production coupled with more reliable pitching from Brown compared to Bellozo’s struggles on the mound. The total score should surpass eight runs based on both teams’ recent trends leading us toward an exciting evening at Wrigley Field!