Blue Jays Aim to Extend Winning Streak Against Slumping Cubs
Teams trending in opposite directions of late meet in an interleague matchup when the Toronto Blue Jays battle the Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon. Toronto has won three in a row, while Chicago has dropped three straight, setting the stage for an intriguing contest at Wrigley Field.
The Blue Jays, sitting fifth in the competitive American League East with a 57-64 record, have found recent success, winning six of their last ten games. Their journey this season has been a rollercoaster, but they appear to have hit a positive stride. Meanwhile, the Cubs, at 59-63 and fourth in the National League Central, have faced daytime struggles, holding a 26-28 record during daytime matchups.
The historical head-to-head record adds an extra layer of excitement to this matchup. Toronto leads the all-time series 11-10, but Chicago holds a 4-2 edge in games played at Wrigley Field. First pitch is set for 2:20 p.m. ET, where the Cubs are listed as slight favorites at -114 on the money line, with the over/under set at 10 runs.
Pitching Matchup
Taking the mound for Chicago is right-hander Kyle Hendricks, sporting a challenging 3-10 record with a 6.60 ERA this season. Despite his overall numbers, Hendricks has pitched well recently, allowing three or fewer earned runs in 12 of his last 14 appearances. In his last outing, a tough 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins, Hendricks delivered a solid performance, pitching six innings and allowing five hits, two earned runs, one walk, and five strikeouts. He showed similar form on July 12 in a 5-1 win at St. Louis, where he threw seven shutout innings, yielding only five hits and one walk while striking out three.
On the other side, Toronto will start right-hander Yariel Rodriguez, whose record stands at 1-5 with an ERA of 3.60. Rodriguez has shown promise across his 12 starts this season, pitching 50 innings, allowing 40 hits, 20 earned runs, and 25 walks, while striking out 52. His last outing was a narrow 1-0 loss to the Oakland Athletics, where he pitched well, completing 5.2 innings and surrendering five hits, one earned run, and one walk, with five strikeouts.
Hitting Highlights
Center fielder Cody Bellinger continues to be a key player for the Cubs. In 92 games this season, Bellinger boasts a batting average of .276 with 16 doubles, one triple, 12 homers, and 46 RBIs. His performance on August 9 in a 7-6 win over the Chicago White Sox saw him go 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Bellinger carries a hot bat into the game, having recorded hits in seven of the past ten games. Against the Blue Jays, his career statistics are equally impressive, hitting .318 with three doubles, one homer, and six RBIs in six games.
For Toronto, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. shines as one of their top hitters. The 25-year-old is batting .323 in 120 games, with 32 doubles, one triple, 25 homers, and 80 RBIs. Guerrero Jr. has been in exceptional form, going 6-for-14 with two homers and four RBIs in a recent three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. He also had a standout performance on August 8 against the Baltimore Orioles, racking up three hits, including a double, triple, homer, and four RBIs in a 7-6 victory.
Advanced Analytics
Adding a layer of advanced analysis, the SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every MLB game 10,000 times, supports this forecast with impressive analytics. Entering Week 21 of the MLB season, the model has been on a 25-13 roll on top-rated run-line picks, a record that dates back to last season.
With both teams bringing unique strengths to the table, this Toronto-Chicago matchup promises to be a fascinating contest. Whether it’s the reliability of Hendricks and the resurgence of Rodriguez or the power hitting of Guerrero Jr. and Bellinger, fans can expect thrilling baseball action this Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field.