In this article we will formulate a Chicago Cubs vs Toronto Blue Jays prediction for this MLB game on Friday, August 16th at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Let’s take a look at the prediction for game one in the series.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
The Chicago Cubs are 59-63 this year and they have lost three games in a row. Chicago is coming off of a series loss against Cleveland, where they lost all three games by scores of 9-8, 2-1, and 6-1. Prior to that series, the Cubs won both games against the White Sox, won two out of three against the Twins, and won three out of four against the Cardinals. Chicago is 8-5 in their last 13 games and they are fourth in the NL Central.
The Chicago pitching staff has a 3.75 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and a .237 opponent batting average. The Cubs offense has scored 513 runs with a .235 batting average and a .311 on base percentage. Seiya Suzuki is batting .266 with 16 home runs and 55 RBI’s for the Cubs this season.
Toronto Blue Jays Betting Preview
The Toronto Blue Jays are 57-64 this season and they have won three games in a row. Toronto is coming off of a series win against the Angels, where they won all three games by scores of 4-2, 6-1, and 9-2. Prior to that series, the Blue Jays lost two out of three against the Athletics, won two out of three against the Orioles, and lost two out of three against the Yankees. Toronto is 6-3 in their last nine games and they are last in the AL East.
The Toronto pitching staff has a 4.54 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and a .250 opponent batting average. The Blue Jays offense has scored 504 runs with a .239 batting average and a .313 on base percentage. Vladimir Guerrero is batting .323 with 25 home runs and 80 RBI’s for the Blue Jays this season.
Starting Pitchers
The projected starting pitcher for Chicago is Kyle Hendricks, who is 3-10 with a 6.60 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP over 91.1 innings pitched this year. Hendricks has allowed at least three earned runs in three of his last four starts. The projected starting pitcher for Toronto is Yariel Rodriguez, who is 1-5 with a 3.60 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP over 50.0 innings pitched this season. Rodriguez has allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five starts.
Why the Cubs will beat the Blue Jays
- The Cubs have won each of their last eight day games against American League opponents following a loss.
- The Blue Jays have lost each of their last 10 games as road underdogs against NL Central opponents.
- The Cubs have covered the run line in each of their last eight day games against American League opponents following a loss.
- The Blue Jays have failed to cover the run line each of their last five day games against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- The Cubs have led after 5 innings in each of their last four home day games.
- The Cubs have led after 3 innings in each of their last four home day games.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Cubs’ last eight day games against AL East opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Blue Jays’ last five games as underdogs against National League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last four games.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last three games as road underdogs.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Kyle Hendricks has recorded a win in six of his last eight appearances with the Cubs as favorites against AL opponents.
- Kyle Hendricks has recorded four or more strikeouts in each of his last three appearances.
- Nico Hoerner has scored at least one run in each of the Cubs’ last seven games as favorites.
- Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one Single in each of the Cubs’ last 13 games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs’ last 13 games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Christian Bethancourt has recorded two or more total bases in each of his last six appearances against the Blue Jays after not playing the previous day.
- Mike Tauchman has recorded an RBI in seven of his last eight home appearances against AL East opponents.
- Christian Bethancourt has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances against the Blue Jays after not playing the previous day.
Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded a Double in each of the Blue Jays’ last six games as road underdogs.
- Daulton Varsho has hit a home run in three of the Blue Jays’ last four day games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Alejandro Kirk has recorded an RBI in four of his last five appearances against NL opponents.
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Blue Jays’ last seven road games.
- George Springer has recorded at least one Single in seven of the Blue Jays’ last eight day games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Davis Schneider has scored at least one run in eight of the Blue Jays’ last nine road games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Davis Schneider has recorded at least one hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last nine road games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
Chicago Cubs vs Toronto Blue Jays Prediction
Toronto comes into this game in last place in the AL East standings, but they are coming off of a series sweep of the Angels and they have some positive momentum. The Blue Jays are 28-33 on the road, while the Cubs are 32-27 at home. Chicago had a tough series in Cleveland earlier this week, but they are above .500 at home. The Cubs are starting Kyle Hendricks, who hasn’t been great since coming back from injury, but he has been decent enough. The Blue Jays are starting Rodriguez, who is pitching better recently for the most part, but has not gone very deep into games. Neither offense has been very good, but I am going to give the slight edge to Hendricks at home. My Chicago Cubs vs Toronto Blue Jays prediction is for the Cubs to win.