Chi. Cubs Cubs vs Toronto Blue Jays Picks and Predictions August 17th 2024

From Wrigley Field in Chicago, we have the Blue Jays and Cubs facing off in an interleague matchup. First pitch for Saturday’s matchup is set for 2:20 PM ET. MLBN is carrying this one on TV, and the Cubs are the favorites on the money line, with their odds sitting at -168. The Blue Jays’ money line odds are at +143, and they are 5th in the AL East with a record of 57-65.

Today’s forecast in Chicago calls for broken clouds and temperatures in the mid-70s. Chris Bassitt is starting for the Blue Jays, and he will be facing off against Justin Steele. The over/under line is currently 8.5 runs.

Toronto vs. Chicago Key Information

Right-hander Chris Bassitt gets the start for the Blue Jays today as he faces the Cubs on the road. He has made 24 starts this season and has a record of 9-11 with a 4.30 ERA. Bassitt’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.44. In his last outing, he gave up seven earned runs in four innings of work, taking the loss. Before that, he had pitched well, picking up the win in the outing before that and giving up two earned runs or fewer in three straight starts. Bassitt has a total of 10 quality starts this season.

For the season, the Blue Jays are averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 21st in the league. At home, they have been even worse, averaging just 4 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .239, which is 15th in the league, and their team on-base percentage of .312 is 11th in the league. Toronto’s offense has been led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is hitting .319 for the season with 25 homers and 80 RBIs. Over his last nine games, Guerrero Jr. has gone 13/38 with three homers.

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Currently, Justin Turner, Ernie Clement, and Will Wagner are all on hitting streaks for the Blue Jays. Turner and Clement are both on four-game streaks, while Wagner has a three-game streak. Daulton Varsho is 2nd on the team with 15 homers, but he is batting just .208 for the season.

Left-hander Justin Steele gets the start for the Cubs today as he faces the Blue Jays at home. He has made 19 starts this season and has a record of 3-5 with a 3.16 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting .216 off Steele this season, and he has a WHIP of 1.10. In his 19 starts, Steele has turned in 10 quality starts and is coming off an outing in which he allowed just one earned run in six innings of work. He finished with a no-decision in that outing. Before that, he had given up at least two earned runs in four straight starts.

So far this season, the Cubs are averaging 4.2 runs per game, which is 20th in the league. They have been even worse in terms of batting average, as they are just 17th in the league in that category. However, the Cubs are a patient team at the plate, as they are 7th in the league in walks and have the 13th best on-base percentage in the league.

Chicago’s top power hitter this season has been Ian Happ, who is batting just .233 but has 21 home runs, which is the best mark on the team. Happ has also been swinging a hot bat of late, going 10/35 in his last nine games with four homers. Isaac Paredes is 2nd on the team with 18 homers but is batting just .234 for the season.

For a money line pick, we are leaning towards the Cubs to come out on top at home vs. the Blue Jays. As for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the over, as this is projected to be the 3rd lowest-scoring game of the day, and this line is sitting at 8.5 runs. These teams have the 3rd lowest combined hits projection and 4th lowest home run projection. Looking at today’s starters, Justin Steele has the 5th best chance to pick up a win, while Chris Bassitt is 18th among today’s starters in projected strikeouts.

Cubs Host Blue Jays with Wild-Card Hopes on the Line

The Chicago Cubs end up in the main part of the National League wild-card race, where each game is critical as they fight to remain in conflict. On Saturday, the Cubs will proceed with their three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays, expecting to gather speed and inch more like a playoff spot.

Cubs Look to Build Momentum

The Cubs have confronted their portion of difficulties as of late, as shown in Friday’s down where they almost let an agreeable lead get away. In the wake of driving 5-2 in the 10th inning, the Cubs saw the Blue Jays rally to attach the game with three runs off reliever Hector Neris. In spite of the panic, Chicago figured out how to get a 6-5 triumph in the tenth inning, because of Seiya Suzuki’s stroll off single that scored Ian Happ from a respectable halfway point.

For the Cubs, each triumph is fundamental as they explore the jam-packed wild-card race. Friday’s dominate snapped a three-match series of failures, keeping them inside five rounds of a wild-card spot. Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks, who conveyed a strong five-inning execution on Friday, underscored the significance of the triumph: “It doesn’t make any difference what it looks like, how we make it happen; a success’ a success.”

Cubs administrator Craig Counsell repeated the feeling, recognizing the everyday toil of the playoff race.

“I think it’s reasonable to see it that way,” Counsell said, referring to the critical nature of each game at this stage of the season.

Ian Happ and the Cubs’ Offense

One bright spot for the Cubs has been the performance of outfielder Ian Happ. Happ has been on a tear lately, batting .321 with four home runs during his current seven-game hitting streak. His consistency at the plate has been a key factor in keeping the Cubs’ offense afloat during their stretch of 14 consecutive games against American League opponents, during which the team has gone 5-4.

Justin Steele Takes the Mound

On Saturday, the Cubs will send left-hander Justin Steele to the mound. Steele (3-5, 3.16 ERA) has been one of Chicago’s most reliable starters this season. In his last outing, he allowed just one unearned run on six hits in a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox. Since May 27, Steele has been particularly effective, posting a 3-3 record with a 2.44 ERA over his last 14 starts, covering 88 2/3 innings.

Steele has also excelled in interleague play, where he owns a 1.87 ERA in 14 starts since the beginning of 2023—the lowest mark in the majors over that span. He’ll face a Blue Jays lineup that he has limited experience against, having made just one career start against Toronto, where he allowed three runs over five innings in August 2023.

Blue Jays Counter with Chris Bassitt

The Blue Jays will turn to veteran right-hander Chris Bassitt as they try to bounce back from Friday’s loss. Bassitt (9-11, 4.30 ERA) is looking to rebound after a rough outing against the Oakland Athletics last Sunday, where he gave up seven runs over four innings in an 8-4 loss. The 35-year-old attributed his struggles to the closed roof at the Rogers Centre, noting that it affected his mechanics: “I had to completely change my mechanics to kind of get the movement I wanted.”

Bassitt has struggled against the Cubs in the past, posting an 0-1 record with a 6.32 ERA in three career starts against them. He’ll need to be at his best to help the Blue Jays avoid falling further behind in the standings.

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Alejandro Kirk Steps Up

In spite of Toronto’s battles, catcher Alejandro Kirk has been a champion entertainer lately. Since taking over as the group’s essential catcher following Danny Jansen’s exchange to the Boston Red Sox, Kirk has been hitting .306 over his last 24 games. His consistent presence behind the plate and commitments with the bat have been a brilliant spot for the Blue Jays.

“We like the way he’s swinging the bat right now, kind of the Kirky that we’ve grown to love, and it’s an opportunity for him to take charge of the pitching staff,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.

Conclusion: Cubs Aim to Capitalize on Opportunities

As the Cubs and Blue Jays proceed with their series, the two groups are battling for their playoff lives. The Cubs, still inside striking distance of a wild-card spot, need to profit by each valuable chance to get triumphs, particularly against groups like the Blue Jays who are additionally battling to remain in dispute. With Justin Steele on the hill and the offense drove by Ian Happ, the Cubs have the apparatuses to expand on Friday’s emotional win and keep their postseason trusts alive. In the mean time, the Blue Jays will focus on Chris Bassitt and Alejandro Kirk to lead the way as they expect to even the series and recapture their balance in the playoff race.