Chicago Cubs vs Miami Marlins Picks and Predictions May 13th 2025

Swanson Stays Hot as Cubs Look to Keep Rolling Against Marlins

The Chicago Cubs are heating up behind the bat of Dansby Swanson, and they’ll look to build on Monday’s series-opening win as they host the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. With the red-hot St. Louis Cardinals closing the gap in the NL Central, every game counts — especially at home.

Swanson’s Turnaround Ignites Cubs

Dansby Swanson’s early-season struggles are quickly becoming a distant memory. After starting the season batting just .181, the veteran shortstop has surged to a .422 average over his last 13 games, launching five home runs during that stretch. His two-run blast on Monday gave him nine for the season, tying Francisco Lindor for the most among MLB shortstops.

Want To See Who’s On Top? Check Out The Best Handicappers Leaderboard Now!

“He’s seeing it well. He’s swinging at the right pitches. He’s hitting mistakes really hard.”
— Craig Counsell, Cubs Manager

Swanson credits the Cubs’ hitting coaches for helping him stay grounded and focused at the plate.

“Their ability to keep me in a good place… has really been the key to all this.”
— Dansby Swanson, Cubs Shortstop

Swanson’s resurgence comes at the perfect time for Chicago, who snapped a two-series losing streak and maintained a perfect 7-0 record in series openers at Wrigley Field this season.

Pitching Matchup: Brown Seeks First Home Win

Right-hander Ben Brown (3-3, 4.95 ERA) will take the ball for the Cubs. While he’s shown flashes of brilliance — including a season-high nine strikeouts in his last outing — he’s still searching for his first career win at Wrigley. Brown owns an 0-2 record with an 8.10 ERA in four starts at home this season.

He’ll be opposed by Marlins righty Valente Bellozo (0-2, 3.50 ERA), who is coming off a stellar one-hit performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Despite holding the champs scoreless over 5 1/3 innings, Bellozo didn’t factor into the decision in a 10-1 loss.

“Velo was good… a great day for me to prove versus really, I think, the best lineup in Major League Baseball right now.”
— Valente Bellozo, Marlins Pitcher

However, Bellozo was rocked in his only previous outing against the Cubs, giving up five earned runs in a short appearance.

Marlins Searching for Offense

Miami continues to search for consistency, and while Monday’s 5-2 loss was another setback, the return of center fielder Derek Hill provided a boost. Hill, who had been out since mid-April with a wrist injury, launched a 399-foot homer in his first game back.

Struggling With Your MLB Bets?

Unlock Expert Picks and Turn Stats Into Wins Today!

Get Started!

Betting on baseball? First, dive into the freshest Scores and Odds.

“Good to see Derek put a good swing on that ball and [breathe] some life into us.”
— Clayton McCullough, Marlins Manager

Still, the Marlins will need more from the rest of the lineup to keep pace with a Cubs team that is beginning to rediscover its offensive rhythm.

Can the Cubs Capitalize on Momentum?

With Swanson locked in and Chicago holding serve at home, the Cubs have an excellent chance to grab the series win Tuesday night. Bellozo has shown he can handle elite lineups, but Wrigley Field — and a surging Swanson — could provide a tougher test.