Mets vs Cubs Prediction & Best Bets (May 25)

Thursday, May 25’s MLB schedule sees the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs facing off in the finale of their three-game series. The home team has impressed so far by winning the first two collisions, giving Chicago the chance to sweep the Mets vs Cubs series with another victory tonight.

Cubs win!

Final: #Cubs 4, Mets 2. pic.twitter.com/FD8rW2sRCe

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 25, 2023

The Cubs defeated the Mets for the second time in as many nights with a 4-2 victory on Wednesday. Starting pitcher Marcus Stroman was phenomenal over eight innings in the win, allowing two runs on four hits with a pair of walks while striking out three batters.

Can the Mets avoid the sweet with a bounce-back performance tonight? Or will the Cubs take one step closer to a .500 record with another impressive effort?

Here’s a look at everything you know heading into tonight’s Mets vs Cubs showdown, from the latest betting odds to a prediction with the best betting recommendation, courtesy of Betting News.

New York Mets vs Chicago Cubs Game Information and Betting Odds

Matchup Information

• Matchup: New York Mets (25-25, 13-16 Away) vs. Chicago Cubs (22-26, 13-11 Home)
• Venue & Location: Wrigley Field (Chicago, Illinois)
• Date: Thursday, May 25, 2023
• Game Time: 7:40 p.m. Eastern Time
• Mets vs Cubs TV Info: ESPN+, MLB.TV

Mets vs Cubs Game Odds

Game odds are via BetOnline as of Wednesday, May 24 at 10:34 p.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Spread

• New York Mets -1.5 (+164)
• Chicago Cubs +1.5 (-200)

Over/Under

• Over 7 Runs (-106)
• Under 7 Runs (-114)

Moneyline

• New York Mets -104
• Chicago Cubs -112

Mets vs Cubs Starting Pitchers

• Mets: Carlos Carrasco (4 starts — 0-2, 8.68 ERA)
• Cubs: Kyle Hendricks (0 starts —0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Mets vs Cubs Betting Trends

• The Mets are 0-6 straight up in their last six games against the Cubs.
• The Cubs are 5-10 straight up in their last 15 games played in May.
• The total has hit the over in eight of the Mets’ last 12 games against the NL Central.
• The total has hit the over in four of the Cubs’ last six home games.
• The total has hit the under in four of the last six Mets vs Cubs matchups.

Mets vs Cubs Game Preview

The Mets were feeling good about themselves as they rode a five-game winning streak into this series. Instead, they’ve picked up back-to-back losses to the Cubs, leaving them in danger of falling below .500 with a loss tonight.

Unfortunately, losing to Chicago has been the norm for New York over the last few years. For starters, the Mets have lost six straight games to the Cubs, generating just 2.0 runs per game while being held to two or fewer in all but one of those contests.

On top of that, the Mets have lost 14 of their previous 20 trips to Wrigley Field. They’ve tasted defeat in each of their past three road games against the Cubs, getting outscored 14-6 on aggregate.

If the Mets are to end this trend, they must take advantage of Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks in his 2023 debut. The veteran starter has yet to take the mound due to a serious shoulder injury he was dealing with.

Hendricks has much to prove, though. His rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa left much to be desired as he went 2-1 with a 5.75 ERA and 1.328 WHIP in five starts.

Kyle Hendricks will pitch tomorrow for the #Cubs.

— Taylor McGregor (@Taylor_McGregor) May 25, 2023

Still, the 33-year-old starter has found success against the Mets in the past. He’s made five previous starts against New York, recording a 2.10 ERA while striking out 26 batters over 30 innings of work.

Even if Hendricks is a bit rusty, it isn’t as if his counterpart has been pitching well. Carlos Carrasco’s abysmal 8.68 ERA highlights just how bad he’s been. He’s surrendered at least five runs in three of his four starts and has yet to make it beyond the fifth inning.

Nevertheless, Carrasco has performed well at Wrigley Field in the past, tallying a 1-0 record with a 2.25 ERA in two previous starts. Continuing that success gives his team the best chance to win.

Sure, momentum might be on the Cubs’ side, but it’s important to remember that they’re only 6-10 as the favorite in NL competition this season. Although the Mets are only 3-7 as underdogs against National League clubs, Chicago’s struggles as the favorite open the door for a potential “upset.”

Mets vs Cubs Game Prediction and Picks

Mets vs Cubs Prediction: Mets 5, Cubs 3

Mets vs Cubs: Mets ML (Best Value: -104 at BetOnline) & Over 7 Total Runs (Best Value: -106 at BetOnline)

Although the Cubs have had their number, I predict that the Mets will avoid being swept tonight. Carrasco is due to return to form and has pitched well at Wrigley Field in the past. Hendricks is too much of an unknown commodity at the moment and if he doesn’t pitch better than he did in Triple-A, the Cubs could be in trouble early on.

For another solid Mets vs Cubs bet, I’m taking the over on the 7-run total. After all, the over is 7-3 in New York’s last 10 games and 11-2 in Chicago’s previous 13. With Hendricks struggling to pitch consistently and Hendricks coming off a major injury, there’s a better chance the batters on both sides will find success at the plate.

Other New York vs Chicago Resources

• Mets vs Cubs Consensus Picks, Score Projections & Betting Stats