The Toronto Blue Jays (57-65) will visit the Chicago Cubs (60-63), in the second game of a three-game series, Saturday at 2:20 p.m. ET.
The Cubs are favored (-170 on the moneyline to win) when they take the field at home against the Blue Jays (+143). The Cubs will start Justin Steele (3-5) versus the Blue Jays and Chris Bassitt (9-11).
The Cubs took down the Blue Jays 6-5 yesterday, with Tyson Miller getting the win (1.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 0 K) and Ian Happ leading the way offensively (going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and an RBI). Chad Green (0.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 K) took the loss for the Blue Jays.
Here is what you need to get ready for Saturday’s Cubs vs. Blue Jays matchup, including viewing options.
Chicago Cubs vs. Toronto Blue Jays odds and betting lines
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Saturday at 9:16 a.m. ET. For a full list of Sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
- Favorite: Cubs (-170, bet $170 to win $100)
- Underdog: Blue Jays (+143, bet $100 to win $143)
- Over/under: 8
Cubs vs. Blue Jays: Live streaming info & game time
- Game Day: Saturday, August 17, 2024
- Game Time: 2:20 p.m. ET
- Stadium: Wrigley Field
- TV Channel: Marquee Sports Network
- Live Stream: Fubo (Watch for free)
Cubs stats and trends
Cubs betting records
- This season, the Cubs have won 26 out of the 53 games, or 49.1%, in which they’ve been favored.
- Chicago has entered 11 games this season favored by -170 or more, and won each of those games.
- The oddsmakers’ moneyline implies a 63% chance of a victory for the Cubs.
- Games involving Chicago have gone over the total set by oddsmakers in 54 of 123 chances this season.
- The Cubs are 55-67-0 against the spread this season.
Justin Steele (Cubs probable starter)
- Steele gets the start for the Cubs, his 20th of the season. He is 3-5 with a 3.16 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 114 2/3 innings pitched.
- In his last time out on Saturday against the Chicago White Sox, the lefty tossed six innings, giving up no earned runs while surrendering six hits.
- The 29-year-old has amassed an ERA of 3.16, with 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings, in 19 games this season. Opposing hitters have a .221 batting average against him.
- Steele is seeking his third quality start in a row.
- Steele is seeking his fifth straight appearance lasting five or more innings. He averages six frames per appearance on the mound.
- He has held his opponents without an earned run in five of his 19 outings this season.
- The opposing Blue Jays offense has the 21st-ranked slugging percentage (.384) and ranks 26th in MLB play with 114 home runs. It has a collective .239 batting average, and is 21st in MLB with 967 total hits and 22nd in MLB play scoring 509 runs.
Cubs batting stats
- The Cubs’ 128 home runs rank 20th in Major League Baseball.
- The offense for Chicago has a slugging percentage of .386 this season, 20th in MLB.
- The Cubs have a team batting average of .235 this season, which ranks 22nd among MLB teams.
- Chicago ranks 20th in the majors with 519 total runs scored this season.
- The Cubs have an on-base percentage of .310 this season, which ranks 16th in the league.
- Chicago ranks 18th in strikeouts per game (8.6) among MLB offenses.
Blue Jays stats and trends
Blue Jays betting records
- The Blue Jays have won in 20, or 35.1%, of the 57 contests they have been named as odds-on underdogs this year.
- This year, Toronto has won one of five games when listed as at least +143 or worse on the moneyline.
- The moneyline set for this matchup implies the Blue Jays have a 41.2% chance of walking away with the win.
- Contests with Toronto has gone over the total set by sportsbooks in 65 of 121 chances this season.
- The Blue Jays are 58-62-0 against the spread in their 120 games with a line set by sportsbooks this season.
Chris Bassitt (Blue Jays probable starter)
- Bassitt aims for his 10th victory when he makes the start for the Blue Jays, his 25th of the season. He is 9-11 with a 4.30 ERA and 129 strikeouts in 134 2/3 innings pitched.
- His last appearance was on Sunday against the Oakland Athletics, when the right-hander tossed four innings, surrendering seven earned runs while giving up eight hits.
- The 35-year-old has amassed an ERA of 4.30, with 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings in 24 games this season. Opponents are batting .271 against him.
- Bassitt is trying to collect his 11th quality start of the year.
- Bassitt has put together 20 starts this campaign that he pitched five or more innings.
- He has held his opponents without an earned run in four of his 24 appearances this season.
- He will match up with a Cubs offense that ranks 23rd in the league with 964 total hits (on a .235 batting average). The team also slugs a collective .386 (20th in the league) with 128 total home runs (20th in MLB action).
- Among qualifying pitchers in MLB action this season, the 35-year-old ranks 51st in ERA (4.30), 60th in WHIP (1.440), and 25th in K/9 (8.7).
Blue Jays batting stats
- The Blue Jays have hit 114 home runs this season, the fifth-lowest total in MLB play.
- This season, Toronto is 21st in the majors with a .384 slugging percentage.
- The Blue Jays have the 19th-ranked batting average in the league (.239).
- Averaging 4.2 runs per game (509 total), Toronto is the 22nd-highest scoring team in the majors.
- The Blue Jays rank 13th in the majors with an on-base percentage of .312.