Chicago Cubs vs Toronto Blue Jays – Series Preview (August 16-18): Overview, Game and Broadcast Info, Starting Pitchers, W2W4
The Cubs (59-63) saw their momentum snapped in Cleveland after a three-game sweep at the hands of the Guardians. Chicago had won eight of 10 to get within a game of the .500 mark before dropping this series. They hope to get back on a winning track as they return to Wrigley for three against the Blue Jays starting Friday afternoon.
It’s been a disappointing season for the Blue Jays (57-64), who have never lived up to the hype that surrounded their minor-league system a couple years back. They have a team OPS of .697, which is just the 19th-best in baseball. One Jays hitter that definitely has not disappointed is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who has been white-hot in the second half with 11 home runs and a mind-boggling 1.417 OPS.
The pitching staff has been a major issue north of the border with a 4.54 team ERA that is tied with the Angels for fourth-worst in all of baseball. The Cubs won’t see the ace of the staff, José Berríos, and the rest of the rotation has been hit-or-miss. The bullpen has been a disaster, with a 5.02 ERA that is only ahead of the White Sox and Rockies in 2024.
The Cubs now play the next five series against teams with losing records, providing them at least an opportunity to make a move in the standings. Of course, they also have a losing record, so it’s hardly a slam dunk that Craig Counsell‘s squad will be able to take advantage of their soft schedule.
The Cubs have one last chance to make this season interesting down the stretch. The odds aren’t great but let’s see if they can surprise us and make it a bit of a race.
Game Time and Broadcast Info
- Friday, August 16 at 1:20pm CT on Apple TV+.
- Saturday, August 17 at 1:20pm CT on MLB Network (out of market only) and Marquee.
- Sunday, August 18 at 1:20pm CT on Marquee.
Starting Pitchers
| Date | Pitcher | Age | T | ERA | W/L | FIP | K/BB |
| 8/16 | Kyle Hendricks | 34 | R | 6.60 | 3-10 | 5.30 | 2.41 |
| Yariel Rodriguez | 27 | R | 3.60 | 1-5 | 3.82 | 2.08 | |
| 8/17 | Justin Steele | 29 | L | 3.16 | 3-5 | 3.27 | 3.61 |
| Chris Bassitt | 35 | R | 4.30 | 9-11 | 4.12 | 2.48 | |
| 8/18 | Shōta Imanaga | 30 | R | 3.16 | 9-2 | 3.57 | 6.89 |
| Bowden Francis | 28 | R | 4.92 | 5-3 | 5.08 | 3.19 |
What to Watch For
- The Cubs lost two more one-run games against Cleveland and are 17-25 in those close contests this season.
- Steele has given up just three runs in his last two starts over 12.2 innings pitched.
- Miguel Amaya has hits in his last four starts.