The Miami Marlins will be looking to bounce back from a brutal 14-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs as the two meet in the rubber match this afternoon.
Max Meyer has been a strikeout machine in 2025 and I’ll dive into why he will miss more bats in my Cubs vs Marlins predictions.
Read further with my MLB picks for Wednesday, May 21.
Cubs vs Marlins prediction
My Cubs vs Marlins best bet: Max Meyer Over 5.5 strikeouts (-115 at BetMGM)
The Miami Marlins’ pitching staff has been atrocious this season, ranking 29th in the big leagues with a 5.56 ERA.
Max Meyer is about their only bright spot in the rotation, going 3-4 with a respectable 4.47 ERA. The number that really pops out is his 59 strikeouts in just 50 1/3 innings of work.
The right-hander has electric stuff and he’s shown it at times by cashing the Over in Ks in four of his last six outings. Last time out, the 26-year-old struck out seven Tampa Bay Rays en route to the win in five innings of three-run baseball.
Meyer hasn’t faced this current Chicago Cubs lineup a lot in his young career, with just 18 at-bats combined and only two strikeouts. But, they’re hitting only .222 against him and Chicago is striking out 7.95 times per game.
If we take a closer look at the splits, Meyer also pitches better at home with a 3.90 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings. His 10.55 K/9 is tied for 10th-best among qualified starters. He’ll make life difficult for the Cubbies today.
Cubs vs Marlins same-game parlay (SGP)
Max Meyer Over 5.5 strikeouts
Seiya Suzuki Over 0.5 hits
Nico Hoerner Over 0.5 RBI
Seiya Suzuki is coming off a massive night as the Cubs scored 14 runs on Tuesday. The outfielder went 3-for-5 with a double and a home run while driving in four. He’s been a solid piece for Chicago all year long, hitting .253 with 12 bombs and 43 RBI.
Suzuki has cashed the Over in hits in five of his last six games, and two of them were multi-hit performances. While Meyer does strike out a lot of hitters at home, opponents are batting .279 against him at loanDepot Park. Suzuki is also 1-for-3 lifetime vs. the right-hander.
Nico Hoerner also had an impressive day in Game 2 of this series, going 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI. He’s been swinging it extremely well lately with four multi-hit games in his last five. Hoener has also cashed the Over in RBI in four of his last five contests.
Hoerner already has three RBI in five appearances against Miami in ‘25, and he’s averaging about one RBI every second game, with 22 of them in 45 games this season.
Cubs vs Marlins odds
Cubs vs Marlins live odds
Cubs vs Marlins opening odds
- Moneyline: Chicago -130 | Miami +110
- Run line: Chicago -1.5 (+120) | Miami +1.5 (-140)
- Over/Under: Over 9 (+100) | Under 9 (-120)
Cubs vs Marlins trend
The Miami Marlins have hit the Game Total Over in 27 of their last 43 games (+9.15 Units / 19% ROI). Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Marlins.
How to watch Cubs vs Marlins and game info
| Location | loanDepot park, Miami, FL |
| Date | Wednesday, 5-21-2025 |
| First pitch | 1:10 p.m. ET |
| TV | MARQ, FDSN - Florida |
| Cubs starting pitcher | Cade Horton (2-0, 6.00 ERA) |
| Marlins starting pitcher | Max Meyer (3-4, 4.47 ERA) |
Cubs vs Marlins latest injuries
Cubs vs Marlins weather
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
