New York Mets vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Predictions May 9th 2025

Cubs, Mets Meet in Early-Season Showdown That Feels Like October

While Memorial Day is still on the horizon, the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs are already delivering a matchup with serious playoff implications. As the two National League division leaders open a three-game set Friday night at Citi Field, the potential for this to be a postseason preview is hard to ignore.

Division Leaders Collide

The Mets enter the series atop the NL East, riding the momentum of a dominant 7-1 win over Arizona that snapped their first rough patch of the season. After dropping back-to-back series for the first time since last August, New York got a jolt from Juan Soto, whose two home runs on Wednesday signaled a possible return to form for the All-Star slugger.

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“Those are winning plays.”
— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Manager

Even before Soto’s bat came alive, the Mets showed flashes of postseason-caliber baseball. Kodai Senga worked out of a critical jam, and the defense executed a picture-perfect relay to nail a runner at the plate—exactly the kind of plays teams rely on come October.

As for the Cubs, their high-powered offense has propelled them to the top of the NL Central, despite a series loss to the San Francisco Giants. Chicago leads the majors in runs scored (223) and boasts an 8-2-1 series record since a sluggish opening in Japan.

“We were moments away from winning that game.”
— Nico Hoerner, Cubs Second Baseman

Even after a rough extra-innings loss Tuesday and a quiet offensive day Wednesday, Chicago remains one of the most dangerous teams in baseball—and one that should feature prominently in any MLB playoff predictions this early in the year.

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Holmes vs. Taillon: The Matchup

Clay Holmes (4-1, 2.95 ERA) will start for the Mets, fresh off a six-inning, three-run outing in a win over St. Louis. Though mostly used in relief against the Cubs in the past, Holmes has transitioned well into a starting role.

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Opposite him, the Cubs will send out Jameson Taillon (2-1, 3.86 ERA), who owns a sparkling 4-0 career record with a 1.96 ERA in six starts against the Mets. He’s coming off a strong performance against the Brewers, where he allowed just two runs over six innings.

If you’re evaluating MLB betting angles, Taillon’s historical dominance over New York and the Cubs’ run-scoring ability make for an intriguing underdog value play.

An October Atmosphere in May?

While it’s still early, this series carries all the weight of a postseason matchup—division leaders, All-Star hitters, and savvy pitching on both sides. Whether you’re a bettor, a fan, or just love great baseball, this one’s worth circling on the calendar.