Blue Jays vs. Cubs Odds, Picks and Prediction: Jays win Again

On Thursday afternoon in the Windy City, the Blue Jays face the Chicago Cubs in a makeup game from June 21, which was postponed due to weather.  This Blue Jays vs. Cubs prediction will not only show you our picks for the game but also the pitching matchup and some key information.

The Blue Jays (54-61) have won five of their last seven games, and while in the basement of the AL East, they are still only three games out of the last AL Wild Card spot.

The Cubs (66-49) are coming off a sweep in their last series and have won four of the last five games. They are in second place in the NL Central, 5.5 games out of first place but lead the NL Wild Card five games clear of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Even on the road, where the Jays are four games under .500 and facing a likely playoff-bound Cubs team, bet365 Sportsbook has them as the favorites at -115 with Chicago at +108 and a total of 7.5 runs.

The Blue Jays take the Series in the Lone Star State

The Blue Jays were in Texas for their last series, taking two of three games from the Houston Astros. They won the series finale 5-4 with Ernie Clement playing the hero with a two-run home run in the 10th inning. Toronto was held hitless until the sixth inning, and Jesus Sanchez also had a two-run shot.

The Blue Jays have won six of their last nine games, and while they have not been lighting up the scoreboard, they've only given up an average of 1.8 runs per game in those six wins. Lighting up the scoreboard is something Toronto has not done much of this season, ranking dead last in the Majors in runs.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.259, 6 home runs, 44 RBIs) missed yesterday’s game with a hamstring injury and is listed as day-to-day.

Blue Jays’ Starting Pitcher for Makeup Game 

Toronto sends All-Star Dylan Cease (7-5, 2.41 ERA, 1.13 WHIP) to the hill, and the club has won four of his last five starts, including his last two; in three of them he did not give up any runs. He ranks third in the Majors in strikeouts (174), fifth in ERA, and has walked 51 batters in 119 1/3 innings. While with the San Diego Padres last season, Cease faced the Cubs twice, giving up two runs in 8 2/3 innings.

Cubbies Get Out the Brooms!

The Cubs are coming off an impressive three-game sweep of the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, who have the best record in baseball. They outscored them 22-12, and in the 7-6 win in the series finale, Pete Crow-Armstrong had two home runs and four RBIs.

Crow-Armstrong (.288, 26 home runs, 69 RBIs) leads a solid Chicago lineup that ranks second in the bigs in runs scored and has five players with at least 14 home runs.

Cubs’ Starting Pitcher for Makeup Game 

David Peterson (6-7, 5.52 ERA, 1.48 WHIP) gets the nod for the Cubbies, and they have won his last three starts where he gave up a total of four runs in 18 2/3 innings. While having an ERA north of 5.0, he has not given up more than two runs in five of his six starts for the Cubs after being traded from the New York Mets. This season in 101 innings, he has 85 strikeouts and 40 walks and tied a season high with eight strikeouts in his last start.

Blue Jays vs. Cubs Predictions 

Blue Jays Moneyline (-115, Bet365) 

While facing a hot Cubs team, I am still taking the Blue Jays in this makeup game. The main reason is that their ace, Cease, is taking the hill, and he gave up one run in his last start, and in three of his last five outings he did not give up any runs. Look for this game to be like yesterday's, with Toronto getting some late runs and winning in another close contest.

Under 7.5 runs 8 (-115, Bet365) 

The total is set low on this one, for good reason. Cease has given up a total of one run in the four Toronto wins in his last five starts, and Peterson has not given up more than two runs in five of his six starts for the Cubs after coming to them in a trade. This interleague game has a pitcher's duel written all over it, which is why the Under is the pick.