Barstool Bush
Predictions

Toronto Blue Jays at Chicago Cubs

By Bush StaffUpdated 15d ago·2 min read
Toronto Blue JaysTOR(54-61)
Chicago CubsCHC(66-49)
2—3
FINAL
1234567891011RHE
TOR
100000100002111
CHC
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This one turned into a pitcher's duel nobody expected given the numbers on the page. Cease came in at 2.28, Peterson at 5.35, and for most of the afternoon the gap looked even wider than that. Peterson battled through some traffic and gave up 7 hits, while Cease kept the Cubs off balance deep into the game.

Show fees
FINAL
Spread
ML
Total
Blue Jays(54-61)
WLWLW
2
Cubs(66-49)
WWWLW
3
Best BetCubs +101
Postgame

This one graded out. The Cubs' recent form carried the day exactly as argued, even though Cease's start (7 hits allowed by Chicago's offense combined, dominant length) made it look like the wrong side for most of the game. The 9th-inning rally and 11th-inning walk-off run are precisely the 'find a way' quality we flagged pre-game.

Pregame

Chicago's the play here, and it's not close to a stretch — this is a club that's won 4 of its last 5 against real competition in the Yankees and Dodgers, riding a starter who's been dealing lately. Toronto's price reflects a team that's still live, but the roster attrition on that side is real and growing. Back the Cubs to win outright.

Toronto's lineup was already banged up walking in. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. sat out again with the hamstring issue that's nagged him since late July, and things got worse in the 4th when Luis Urias had to be pulled with a lower-half injury. That's a lot of firepower missing from a Blue Jays team already scrapping for relevance in the AL East.

Dylan Cease
Dylan Cease
(7-5)·2.42 ERA
Jul 31 vs Cardinals
ND
6.0IP
1ER
7K
3BB
96P
08/06 Lineup
David Peterson
David Peterson
(7-7)·5.29 ERA
Aug 1 vs Yankees
ND
6.1IP
1ER
8K
0BB
97P
08/06 Lineup

None of it mattered much through regulation. Toronto scratched across single runs in the 1st and 7th and carried a lead into the late innings behind Cease's shutdown stuff, out-hitting Chicago 11-5 for most of the day. But the Cubs, who've been the hottest team in the building all week, don't go quietly at home.

Chicago erased the deficit with a 2-run 9th to force extra innings, then finished it with a run in the 11th. It's the kind of finish that fits the moment — the Cubs have been winning close, ugly, and often lately, and Thursday was no different. Toronto, despite out-hitting its opponent by 6, walked away with nothing to show for it.

Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
(54-61)
Aug 5W@ Astros5-4
Aug 5L@ Astros2-7
Aug 4W@ Astros3-1
Aug 2Lvs Cardinals1-5
Aug 1Wvs Cardinals5-1
Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
(66-49)
Aug 5Wvs Dodgers7-6
Aug 5Wvs Dodgers5-1
Aug 4Wvs Dodgers10-5
Aug 2Lvs Yankees1-2
Aug 1Wvs Yankees5-2

The form card tells the story before you even get to the box score. Chicago has won 3 straight and taken the first 3 of its set with the Dodgers, playing like a team that knows exactly where it's going this summer. Toronto is 3-2 in its last 5 but sitting at 54-61, a record that puts every game like this one squarely in the margins.

Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
(14)
  • Day-To-DayLuis Urias (2B) — Urias was pulled from Thursday's game against the Cubs in the fourth inning with an apparent injury to his lower half, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.08/06
  • Day-To-DayVladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B) — Guerrero (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Cubs.08/06
  • 10-Day-ILJonatan Clase (LF) — Clase (foot) isn't in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays.07/22
  • 15-Day-ILTrey Yesavage (SP) — Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Yesavage has been diagnosed with meniscus damage in his left knee and will visit a specialist Monday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.08/06
  • 15-Day-ILSpencer Arrighetti (SP) — Arrighetti (foot) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.08/04
  • 60-Day-ILPatrick Corbin (SP) — Toronto transferred Corbin (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.08/05
  • 60-Day-ILLenyn Sosa (2B) — Sosa (wrist) will resume taking live batting practice this week, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.08/02
  • 60-Day-ILJoe Mantiply (RP) — Mantiply (knee) has resumed throwing bullpen sessions, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
  • 60-Day-ILYimi Garcia (RP) — Garcia (elbow/neck/biceps) has been pulled off his rehab assignment and will be examined by a doctor for possible thoracic outlet syndrome, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
  • 60-Day-ILAddison Barger (RF) — Barger is expected to be sidelined six months following surgery Monday to repair his right elbow UCL, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.07/27
  • 60-Day-ILAnthony Santander (RF) — Santander is still dealing with discomfort in his surgically repaired left shoulder and recently received another cortisone shot, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.07/17
  • 60-Day-ILJose Berrios (SP) — Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Berrios underwent full Tommy John surgery Wednesday in addition to having a stress fracture repaired, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.05/27
  • 60-Day-ILCody Ponce (SP) — Ponce underwent surgery Friday to repair the ACL in his right knee, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILBowden Francis (SP) — The Blue Jays placed Francis (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08
Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
(16)
  • 10-Day-ILMatt Shaw (RF) — The Cubs announced Monday that Shaw recently resumed light hitting while rehabbing his sprained left hand in Arizona, MLB.com reports.08/05
  • 15-Day-ILPhil Maton (RP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell announced July 21 that Maton will rest for roughly three weeks after requiring a platelet-rich plasma injection to address right knee tendinitis, MLB.com reports.08/05
  • 15-Day-ILDaniel Palencia (RP) — Palencia (elbow) is slated to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday at Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/05
  • 15-Day-ILEdward Cabrera (SP) — Cabrera (hamstring) is slated to make the second start of his rehab assignment Wednesday with Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/05
  • 15-Day-ILGavin Hollowell (RP) — The Cubs placed Hollowell on the 15-day injured list Friday with right shoulder inflammation, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.07/31
  • 15-Day-ILHoby Milner (RP) — Milner (abdomen) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, tossing a scoreless inning.07/30
  • 15-Day-ILEthan Roberts (RP) — Roberts (forearm) tossed a perfect inning in a rehab appearance Sunday with Triple-A Iowa.07/20
  • 60-Day-ILRiley Martin (RP) — Manager Craig Counsell announced July 8 that Martin (elbow) has resumed a throwing program at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, MLB.com reports.08/06
  • 60-Day-ILShelby Miller (RP) — The Cubs announced Wednesday that Miler (elbow) has been throwing off a mound and facing hitters at the team's complex in Arizona, MLB.com reports.08/05
  • 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey (RP) — Harvey (triceps/shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday at the Cubs' facility in Arizona, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/05
  • 60-Day-ILClay Holmes (SP) — Manager Craig Counsell said that Holmes (fibula) is expected to be activated from the 60-day injured list to make his Cubs debut with a start this weekend in Kansas City, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.08/04
  • 60-Day-ILBen Brown (RP) — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Brown (neck) has begun to increase his activity and has taken part in workouts with plyometric balls, MLB.com reports.08/04
  • 60-Day-ILJustin Steele (SP) — Steele (elbow) will throw from flat ground and then toss 20 pitches off a mound Saturday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.07/31
  • 60-Day-ILPorter Hodge (RP) — The Cubs transferred Hodge (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILCade Horton (SP) — The Cubs transferred Horton (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.05/08
  • 60-Day-ILTyler Austin (1B) — The Cubs placed Austin (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.05/08

The injury list only reinforces the gap. Guerrero Jr. and Urias joining an already long Blue Jays IL ledger — headlined by Trey Yesavage's new meniscus diagnosis — leaves Toronto running thinner by the week, while the Cubs' walking wounded are mostly rehab arms working their way back rather than everyday difference-makers. That disparity is going to keep showing up in games decided in the 11th inning.

Sources

MLBToronto Blue JaysChicago CubsPolymarketKalshiDylan CeaseDavid Peterson