In this article we will formulate a Chicago Cubs vs Toronto Blue Jays prediction for this MLB game on Saturday, August 17th at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. Let’s take a look at the prediction for game two in the series.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
The Chicago Cubs are 60-63 this year and they have lost three of their last four games. Chicago won the first game in this series by a score of 6-5 on Friday afternoon. Prior to that series, the Cubs lost all three against the Guardians, won both games against the White Sox, and won two out of three against the Twins. Chicago is 5-3 in their last eight games and they are fourth in the NL Central.
The Chicago pitching staff has a 3.75 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and a .237 opponent batting average. The Cubs offense has scored 519 runs with a .235 batting average and a .310 on base percentage. Seiya Suzuki is batting .265 with 16 home runs and 56 RBI’s for the Cubs this season.
Toronto Blue Jays Betting Preview
The Toronto Blue Jays are 57-65 this season and they have won three of their last four games. Toronto dropped the first game in this series, but they nearly came back and won after scoring three late runs. Prior to this series, the Blue Jays swept the Angels in three games, lost two out of three against the Athletics, and won two out of three against the Orioles. Toronto is 5-3 in their last eight 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 509 runs with a .239 batting average and a .312 on base percentage. Vladimir Guerrero is batting .319 with 25 home runs and 80 RBI’s for the Blue Jays this season.
Starting Pitchers
The projected starting pitcher for Chicago is Justin Steele, who is 3-5 with a 3.16 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over 114.0 innings pitched this year. Steele has allowed two earned runs or fewer in three of his last four starts. The projected starting pitcher for Toronto is Chris Bassitt, who is 9-11 with a 4.30 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP over 134.0 innings pitched this season. Bassitt has allowed at least five earned runs in three of his last five starts.
Why the Cubs will beat the Blue Jays
- The Blue Jays have lost each of their last 11 games as road underdogs against NL Central opponents.
- The Cubs have won each of their last six day games against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- The Blue Jays have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four games after playing the previous day after going to extra innings.
- The Cubs have covered the run line in nine of their last 11 games against American League opponents after playing the previous day.
- The Cubs have led after 3 innings in each of their last five day games against AL East opponents that held a losing record.
- The Cubs have led after 5 innings in each of their last five home day games.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Cubs’ last nine day games against AL East opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- Each of the Blue Jays’ last six games as underdogs against National League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last three home games.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last seven Saturday games against National League opponents.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Nico Hoerner has recorded a Double in each of the Cubs’ last three games against AL East opponents.
- Seiya Suzuki has recorded at least one RBI in each of the Cubs’ last four games against AL East opponents.
- Nico Hoerner has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Cubs’ last four games as home favorites against AL East opponents.
- Nico Hoerner has scored at least one run in seven of the Cubs’ last eight games as favorites.
- Justin Steele has recorded six or more strikeouts in seven of his last eight appearances with the Cubs as favorites.
- Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one Single in 13 of the Cubs’ last 14 games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs’ last 14 games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Justin Steele has recorded a win in each of his last four appearances in day games against AL teams that held a losing record.
- Ian Happ has hit a home run in three of the Cubs’ last four games as favorites.
Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded a Double in six of the Blue Jays’ last seven games as road underdogs.
- Ernie Clement has recorded at least one total base in each of the Blue Jays’ last 10 road games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Ernie Clement has recorded at least one hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last 10 road games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Alejandro Kirk has recorded at least one Single in each of his last four appearances with the Blue Jays as road underdogs against NL opponents.
- Daulton Varsho has hit a home run in three of the Blue Jays’ last five day games against opponents that held a losing record.
- Chris Bassitt has recorded a win in four of his five previous appearances against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Davis Schneider has scored at least one run in eight of his nine previous road appearances against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Ernie Clement has recorded at least one RBI in four of the Blue Jays’ last five road games.
Chicago Cubs vs Toronto Blue Jays Prediction
Chicago nearly blew a three run lead late in the game on Friday afternoon, but they were able to hang on for the win. The Cubs are 33-27 at home this season, while the Blue Jays are just 28-34 on the road. Toronto has been extremely inconsistent this year and their offense is one of the lowest scoring in the MLB. The Cubs will start Justin Steele, who has had a couple of poor starts, but has been pretty solid this year. Toronto is going with Chris Bassitt, who has an elevated WHIP and you never know what you are going to get from him. The Cubs have played well at home for most of the season and they have the better starting pitcher, so my Chicago Cubs vs Toronto Blue Jays prediction is for the Cubs to win by at least two runs.