At Wrigley Field on Sunday, the Chicago Cubs (61-63) take on the Toronto Blue Jays (57-66), with first pitch at 2:20 p.m. ET.
The Blue Jays are an underdog (+158 on the moneyline) when they visit the Cubs (-189). The Chicago Cubs will give the start to Shota Imanaga (9-2, 3.16 ERA), who is looking for win No. 10 on the season, and the Blue Jays will turn to Bowden Francis (5-3, 4.92 ERA).
The Cubs beat the Blue Jays 3-2 yesterday, with Nate Pearson getting the win (2.0 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 K) and Michael Busch leading the way offensively (going 1-for-4 with a triple and two RBI). Chris Bassitt (5.0 IP, 3 R, 5 H, 5 K) took the loss for the Blue Jays.
Before this Cubs vs. Blue Jays showdown, here’s everything you need to get ready for Sunday’s MLB action, including viewing options.
Chicago Cubs vs. Toronto Blue Jays odds and betting lines
MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Sunday at 9:16 a.m. ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
- Favorite: Cubs (-189, bet $189 to win $100)
- Underdog: Blue Jays (+158, bet $100 to win $158)
- Over/under: 7
Cubs vs. Blue Jays: Live streaming info & game time
- Game Day: Sunday, August 18, 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
- The Cubs have entered the game as favorites 54 times this season and won 27, or 50%, of those games.
- Chicago is undefeated in eight games this season when favored by -189 or more on the moneyline.
- The implied probability of a win from the Cubs, based on the moneyline, is 65.4%.
- Chicago and its opponents have gone over the total this season in 54 of 124 opportunities.
- In 123 games with a spread this season, the Cubs are 55-68-0 ATS.
Shota Imanaga (Cubs probable starter)
- Imanaga will aim to secure his 10th win when he gets the start for the Cubs, his 23rd of the season. He is 9-2 with a 3.16 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 128 1/3 innings pitched.
- The left-hander’s last time out came on Monday against the Cleveland Guardians, when he tossed five innings, surrendering three earned runs while allowing seven hits.
- The 30-year-old has an ERA of 3.16, with 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings, in 22 games this season. Opposing hitters have a .239 batting average against him.
- Imanaga has 13 quality starts under his belt this season.
- Imanaga is looking for his ninth straight appearance lasting five or more innings. He averages 5.8 frames per appearance on the hill.
- He has had seven appearances this season in which he did not give up an earned run.
- He will match up with a Blue Jays offense that ranks 21st in MLB with 974 total hits (on a .239 batting average). The squad also slugs a collective .384 (21st in MLB) with 115 total home runs (26th in MLB).
- Among pitchers who qualify in MLB play this season, the 30-year-old ranks 10th in ERA (3.16), 13th in WHIP (1.075), and 20th in K/9 (9.2).
Cubs batting stats
- The Cubs’ 129 home runs rank 20th in Major League Baseball.
- Hitters for Chicago have combined for a team rank of 20th in the majors with a .386 team slugging percentage.
- The Cubs have a team batting average of .235 this season, which ranks 23rd among MLB teams.
- Chicago ranks 20th in the majors with 522 total runs scored this season.
- The Cubs have an OBP of .310 this season, which ranks 16th in MLB.
- 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 been victorious in 20, or 34.5%, of the 58 contests they have been chosen as underdogs in this season.
- Toronto has yet to win this season when listed as an underdog of +158 or worse on the moneyline this season.
- Oddsmakers have implied with the moneyline set for this matchup that the Blue Jays have a 38.8% chance of pulling out a win.
- Toronto and its opponents have hit the over in 65 of its 122 games with a total set by oddsmakers this season.
- The Blue Jays have an against the spread mark of 59-62-0 in 121 games with a line this season.
Bowden Francis (Blue Jays probable starter)
- Francis (5-3) gets the starting nod for the Blue Jays in his seventh start of the season. He has a 4.92 ERA in 56 2/3 innings pitched, with 51 strikeouts.
- His most recent appearance was on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Angels, when the righty went seven innings, surrendering one earned run while allowing only one hit.
- During 20 games this season, the 28-year-old has amassed a 4.92 ERA and 8.1 strikeouts per nine innings, while allowing a batting average of .248 to opposing hitters.
- Francis has registered one quality start this year.
- Francis will try to prolong a three-game streak of going five or more innings (he’s averaging 2.8 frames per appearance).
- He has had 10 appearances this season in which he did not allow an earned run.
- He will face off against a Cubs offense that ranks 23rd in the league with 969 total hits (on a .235 batting average). The team also slugs a collective .386 (20th in the league) with 129 total home runs (20th in MLB play).
Blue Jays batting stats
- The Blue Jays are fifth-worst in MLB action with 115 home runs.
- So far this season, Toronto’s .384 slugging percentage ranks 21st in the majors.
- The Blue Jays have the 18th-ranked batting average in the league (.239).
- Averaging 4.2 runs per game (511 total), Toronto is the 22nd-highest scoring team in MLB.
- The Blue Jays’ .312 on-base percentage is 13th in baseball.
