The Chicago Cubs are gearing up to face off against the Toronto Blue Jays in an exciting interleague showdown on Friday, marking the beginning of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.
Chicago’s recent performance has been a bit rocky, as they just suffered three consecutive losses following a promising four-game winning streak. The Cubs were unable to avoid a tough sweep at the hands of the AL-Central leading Cleveland Guardians, culminating in a 6-1 defeat on Wednesday.
The Blue Jays are coming off a strong 9-2 victory against the Angels on Wednesday, with Jose Berrios leading the charge on the mound. Berrios delivered an impressive performance, pitching seven innings, conceding only one earned run on two hits, and striking out five. Daulton Varsho also came up big for the Blue Jays, going 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, and three RBIs.
Both teams have had their ups and downs this season, and below, we will provide a complete betting analysis for Friday’s series opener.
Cubs vs. Blue Jays Odds
| Team | Spread | Total | Money Line |
| Blue Jays | -1.5 (+146) | Over 10.5 (+100) | -104 |
| Cubs | +1.5 (-176) | Under 10.5 (-122) | -112 |
| **Odds Courtesy of FanDuel, Subject to Change** | |||
Cubs vs. Blue Jays Match Details
- Date: Friday, August 16, 2024
- Time: 2:20 p.m. EST
- Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
- TV: Apple TV+
Apex Tale of the Tape
| Blue Jays |
vs. | Cubs |
| 57-64 | Record | 59-63 |
| 4.2 | Runs/G | 4.2 |
| .239 | BA | .235 |
| .313 | OBP | .311 |
| .384 | SLG | .384 |
| .697 | OPS | .695 |
| 113 | HR | 124 |
| 59 | SB | 103 |
| 4.54 | ERA | 3.75 |
| 1.32 | WHIP | 1.24 |
| 30 | Saves | 26 |
| .984 | Fielding % | .986 |
Key Stats
Blue Jays
This will be the 13th start of the season for Toronto’s Yariel Rodriguez (1-5). The righty has put together a 3.60 ERA in 50 2/3 innings pitched, with 52 strikeouts. The 27-year-old allowed one run on five hits over 5 2/3 innings in his last start, a 1-0 loss to the lowly Oakland Athletics.
Rodriguez is facing the Cubs for the first time in his career, but he’ll be confident as he has a 2.49 ERA in five home starts this season.
The Jays’ lineup is highlighted by their star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is hitting .323, with 25 homers and 80 RBIs, all marks that lead Toronto. Despite Vladdy’s great season, the visitors are 26th in the majors in homers and 22nd in runs scored, so offensive consistency has definitely been an issue.
Cubs
On the other side, Hendricks is making his 17th start of the season for the Cubs, holding a 3-10 record and a 6.60 ERA in 91 1/3 innings pitched. He will be looking to build on his solid outing from August 5, when he gave up just two runs over six innings in a 3-0 loss to the Twins. The extra rest between starts could also prove valuable for the veteran right-hander.
Chicago’s lineup hasn’t been great, but outfielders Ian Happ (20 HRs, 67 RBIs) and Cody Bellinger (.276 average, .335 OBP, .425 slugging) have been bright spots. Overall, they’re just 20th in runs scored, so if they want to make a playoff push, the bats will need to come alive.
Prediction
Chicago’s Kyle Hendricks has had a rough season, but he was able to toss a quality start versus a strong Twins lineup. Ten days of rest should help Hendricks, and the Cubs are 20-15 in their past 35, which doesn’t sound amazing, but it’s a trend that points them in the right direction.
The Jays have lost each of Rodriguez’s past three outings, and they’re five games under .500 on the road. The Cubs, meanwhile, have five games over .500 at Wrigley, and they comfortably won their last two home games. Take the Cubbies here to take the series opener and target the under with two struggling offenses.
Final Pick
Cubs ML (-112) & Under 10.5 (-122)
For More Great Content
Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
About the Author
Lucas Abrenica has written over 2,000 sports betting articles over a four-year span. He’s a diehard sports and analytics enthusiast who is here to provide you with valuable insights daily.
