The Toronto Blue Jays (57-66) travel to face off against the Chicago Cubs (61-63) on Sunday, August 18th. This game will be played at Wrigley Field in Chicago and televised on SNET. The Cubs are coming off a win in their previous game, while the Blue Jays are looking to get back on track from a loss to the Cubs. First pitch is set for 1:20 CT.
Blue Jays vs. Cubs Betting Prediction
- Money Line Prediction: Cubs (-183)
- Over/Under Prediction: Over 7 Runs
- The Cubs have won 7 out of their last 10 home games.
- The Cubs have scored an average of 5.8 runs per game in their last 10 home games.
- The Cubs have a 6-4 record in their last 10 games overall.
- The Cubs have won both of their last two games against the Blue Jays, scoring an average of 4.5 runs per game.
- The Blue Jays have lost 7 out of their last 10 games overall.
Blue Jays vs Cubs
It was a low-scoring game in the most recent game of this Cubs vs Blue Jays series. Chicago went into the matchup as -168 favorites and squeaked out a 3-2 win. Toronto had a chance to tie or take the lead in the 9th inning but could only muster one run.
Toronto wasted a good outing from Chris Bassitt, as he went five innings and gave up just three earned runs. Nate Pearson got the win for the Cubs out of the bullpen, and Jorge Lopez got the save. Justin Steele only went two innings for the Cubs but didn’t give up a run.
Offensively, the Cubs were led by Ian Happ, Dansby Swanson, and Michael Busch, as they were the only three Cubs hitters to have more than one hit. Happ and Swanson each homered, while Busch drove in two runs without an extra-base hit.
So far this season, the Blue Jays have been a profitable run line team on the road, with a 40-23 record. Overall, their run line record is 61-62, and their games have averaged 9.0 runs per game, resulting in a 66-54 over/under record. Toronto is down 0-2 in the current series vs. the Cubs and has an overall series record of 14-19-6.
Toronto’s straight-up record is 57-66, and they are 5th in the AL East, 15.5 games behind the Yankees. The Blue Jays have lost two straight games and are 17-24 in division matchups this season. As underdogs, they have a 21-40 record, while they are 36-26 when favored.
Bowden Francis Gets The Start For The Blue Jays
Toronto is starting right-hander Bowden Francis today vs. the Cubs, and he comes in with a record of 5-3 and an ERA of 4.92. Looking at his overall numbers, Francis has made six starts and 20 appearances. His WHIP for the season is 1.24. The most recent outing for Francis came on August 12th vs. the Angels, where he picked up the win. In that start, he went seven innings, giving up just one earned run. Looking back, he has allowed a homer in three of his last four outings. Francis has one quality start this year. Per nine innings, he is averaging 8.1 strikeouts and 2.54 walks.
Blue Jays Offense Breakdown
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been a bright spot for the Blue Jays this season, as he is hitting .319 and leads the team with 25 home runs and 80 RBIs. He has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 7/23 in his last five games with two homers. Daulton Varsho is second on the team with 15 homers but is batting just .210 for the season.
As a team, the Blue Jays are averaging 4.2 runs per game and are 22nd in home runs. They are batting a combined .239 and have been striking out at the 6th best rate in the league. Toronto’s most recent call-up, Will Wagner, is on a four-game hitting streak and has gone 8/15 in his last four games.
Chicago is 34-27 at home this season and has a 2-0 series lead over the Blue Jays. The Cubs have an over/under record of 4-5-1 when the line is set at 7 runs, and their season average runs per game is 8.4.
Overall, the Cubs are 61-63 and trail the Brewers by 10.5 games in the NL Central. They have a 15-21-3 series record and are 44-22 on the run line as underdogs. On the run line, the Cubs have a 23-38 record at home and 36-27 on the road.
Shota Imanaga Gets The Start For The Cubs
Shota Imanaga gets the start for the Cubs today and will be looking to build off his last outing, where he finished with a no-decision. Against the Guardians, he went five innings, giving up three earned runs, seven hits, and one home run. Looking back further, Imanaga has made 22 starts and is 9-2 with a 3.16 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting .235 this season off Imanaga, and he has a total of 13 quality starts. Per nine innings, he is averaging 9.19 strikeouts and just 1.33 walks. At home, his ERA is 4.39 compared to 3.33 on the road.
Cubs Offense Breakdown
Heading into today’s game, the Cubs are averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 20th in the league. This is a team that has been pretty consistent, as they are averaging 4.3 runs per game on the road and 4.1 runs per game at home. As a team, they are batting .235, which is 17th in the league, and are 17th in home runs.
Chicago’s top power hitter this season has been Ian Happ, who has 22 homers, which is 14th in the league. Happ has gone 7/22 in his last six games, including three homers. Overall, he is batting just .233 for the season. Nico Hoerner is batting .254 and is 2nd on the team with five homers.
Blue Jays vs Cubs Prediction
We are predicting the Cubs to pick up a 6-5 win over the Blue Jays, and with the Cubs at -183 on the money line, we would look to the over/under market. Our recommended pick would be to take the over at seven runs. The Cubs have a lot of potential offensively, and we have them finishing with eight hits compared to the Blue Jays with nine.
Looking at today’s starters, Bowden Francis is projected to finish with just four strikeouts, and he ranks 20th in terms of earned runs allowed. As for the Cubs starter, Shota Imanaga, he is projected to finish with five strikeouts and has a better chance of picking up the win than Francis.
All odds are courtesy of Action247 Sportsbook. Good luck!!
* All odds are provided by Action247 Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.**All views expressed are my own. My picks are my own and are not a guarantee, bet at your own risk.Action247 does not warrant the accuracy of completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these post.
Last updated:August 18, 2024 Blue Jays, Cubs