The Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays clash Sunday in game 3 of an MLB series at Rogers Centre. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.
Chicago Cubs Betting Preview
The Cubs look to stay hot after winning 15 of their last 20 games. The Cubs are 2.5 games back in the NL Central. The Cubs pitching staff is 14th in ERA (4.14), 16th in WHIP (1.28) and 8th in quality starts (51). The Cubs’ offense is 5th in runs per game (5.07), 9th in batting average (.256) and 12th in homers (142). Nico Hoerner leads the Cubs with 127 hits and 59 RBI, while Cody Bellinger and Dansby Swanson have combined for 209 hits and 117 RBI. Jameson Taillon gets the ball, and he is 7-6 with a 5.17 ERA and 89 strikeouts this season. Taillon is 5-4 with a 3.54 ERA and 50 strikeouts in his career against the Blue Jays.
Chicago Cubs Team Facts
- The Cubs have won four of their last five games as underdogs.
- The Cubs have covered the run line seven of their last eight games against teams that held a winning record.
- The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Cubs’ last five Sunday games against AL East opponents.
- The Cubs have led after 5 innings in four of their last five games as underdogs.
- The Cubs have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last four road day games.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts
- Cody Bellinger has hit at least one home run in three of the Cubs’ last four games as underdogs against AL East opponents.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one RBI in seven of the Cubs’ last eight games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Cubs’ last six games as underdogs.
- Cody Bellinger has scored at least one run in nine of his last 10 road appearances against opponents that held a winning record.
- Jameson Taillon has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last three appearances against the Blue Jays.
- Cody Bellinger has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs’ last nine games against opponents that held a winning record.
- Cody Bellinger ranks 4th amongst qualified players for Batting Average (.331) this season.
Toronto Blue Jays Betting Preview
The Blue Jays need a win to snap a 3-game losing streak. The Blue Jays have dropped to 7.5 games out of the AL East race. The Blue Jays pitching staff is 2nd in ERA (3.74), 9th in WHIP (1.25) and 3rd in quality starts (55). The Blue Jays offense is 16th in runs per game (4.45), 5th in batting average (.262) and 15th in homers (137). Bo Bichette leads the Blue Jays with 144 hits and 59 RBI, while Whit Merrifield and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have combined for 240 hits and 125 RBI. Hyun Jin Ryu gets the ball, and he is 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA and 5 strikeouts this season. Ryu is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 25 strikeouts in his career against the Cubs.
Toronto Blue Jays Team Facts
- The Blue Jays have lost seven of their last eight games as home favorites following a loss.
- The underdogs have covered the run line in nine of the Blue Jays’ last 10 games.
- The Blue Jays have trailed after 5 innings in four of their last five games as favorites.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last 11 day games.
- The Blue Jays have led after 3 innings in each of their last three day games against National League opponents.
Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts
- Whit Merrifield has hit a home run in three of the Blue Jays’ last four day games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Whit Merrifield has recorded at least one RBI in five of the Blue Jays’ last six day games against NL teams that held a winning record.
- Whit Merrifield has recorded two or more total bases in each of the Blue Jays’ last three day games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- Whit Merrifield has scored at least one run in seven of the Blue Jays’ last eight games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
- Hyun-Jin Ryu has recorded four or more strikeouts in 19 of his last 20 Sunday appearances in day games.
- Daulton Varsho has recorded at least one hit in 11 of his last 12 appearances against the Cubs.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Toronto Blue Jays ranks 2nd in the league for ERA this season (3.71).
- The Toronto Blue Jays ranks 3rd in the league for hits this season (1060).
- The Chicago Cubs ranks 3rd in the league for walks this season (420).
- The Chicago Cubs ranks 4th in the league for on-base percentage this season (.333).
Randy’s Pick
This line is strange to me, as the Cubs have been the hottest team in the second half of the season, and they’re a top-5 most profitable team over the last 30 days. Also, Hyun Jin Ryu is a pitcher with just 9 innings under his belt this season, so the jury is still out on him in terms of form. Yes, Jameson Taillon hasn’t been great this season, but he has a red-hot Cubs squad backing him up, and they’ve won each of his last 6 starts. I’ll gladly grab the Cubs and the plus money.
