Toronto Blue Jays vs Chicago Cubs Prediction MLB Picks 8/18/24

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago Cubs meet Sunday in MLB action from Wrigley Field. Here’s a Toronto Blue Jays vs Chicago Cubs prediction. This will be the final installment in a three-game series. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best Blue Jays vs Cubs pick. We will examine:

The Toronto Blue Jays recent form and player performance

The Chicago Cubs recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Toronto Blue Jays

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Chicago Cubs

Recent betting trends in games played between the Blue Jays and Cubs

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the Blue Jays vs Cubs game

Toronto Blue Jays Betting Preview

The Blue Jays played the Los Angeles Angels in their last series. Toronto did well in that one, taking a sweep with wins 4-2, 6-1 and 9-2. Following a 6-5 loss to the Cubs in the opener, on Saturday the Jays took a tough loss 3-2.

Bowden Francis will take the starter role for the Jays on Sunday. This year Francis is 5-3 with a 4.92 ERA in 20 games (six starts). Over his career in 41 games (six starts) Francis is 6-3 with a 3.65 ERA.

Chicago Cubs Betting Preview

Over on the Cubs’ side, they played the Cleveland Guardians this past week. Chicago got swept in that matchup, falling 9-8, 2-1 and 6-1. On Saturday the Cubs nearly blew a 3-0 lead but held on for the victory in the end. Justin Steele started things off with 2.0 clean frames, one walk and three Ks.

It’ll be Shota Imanaga in the starter role for the Cubs on Sunday. So far Imanaga is 9-2 with a 3.16 ERA over the first 22 starts of his career.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Cubs’ last four games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Six of the Blue Jays’ last seven games 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 four games at Wrigley Field.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Blue Jays’ last three games as road underdogs against NL Central opponents.

Chicago Cubs Player Prop Facts

• Ian Happ has recorded at least one hit in each of the Cubs’ last eight games.
• Ian Happ has recorded at least one total base in each of the Cubs’ last eight games.
• Ian Happ has scored at least one run in each of the Cubs’ last four day games.
• Shota Imanaga has recorded six or more strikeouts in eight of his last nine appearances at Wrigley Field.
• Ian Happ has recorded at least one RBI in four of the Cubs’ last five games against AL East opponents.
• Ian Happ has hit a home run in four of the Cubs’ last five games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Nico Hoerner has recorded at least one Single in 12 of the Cubs’ last 14 day games against AL opponents that held a losing record.

Toronto Blue Jays Player Prop Facts

• Daulton Varsho has recorded at least one hit in each of his last nine appearances with his team as an underdog against the Cubs.
• Daulton Varsho has recorded at least one total base in each of his nine previous road appearances against the Cubs.
• Ernie Clement has scored a run in four of his last five appearances with his team as an underdog against NL Central opponents.
• Ernie Clement has recorded at least one RBI in three of the Blue Jays’ last four road games against opponents that held a losing record.
• Daulton Varsho has recorded at least one Single in seven of his last eight road appearances against the Cubs.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has hit a home run in seven of the Blue Jays’ last 16 games as underdogs.
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has recorded a Double in seven of the Blue Jays’ last nine road games.

Toronto Blue Jays vs Chicago Cubs Prediction

I’ll lean toward the Jays but I could probably go either way. Francis has done well over his last two starts, notching three earned in 12.0 innings for a 1-0 record. As for Imanaga, he’s doing okay himself with five earned in his last 12.0 innings over the past two starts.

On Saturday the Blue Jays posted seven team hits but couldn’t get much going on the scoreboard. Toronto got a nice bullpen effort though, with 3.0 clean innings, no hits, one walk and three Ks. Sunday’s matchup seems like a coin flip to me; I wouldn’t be surprised to see another one-run game.