Chicago Cubs vs Toronto Blue Jays Prediction, 8/12/2023 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Chicago Cubs vs Toronto Blue Jays

Date: Saturday, August 12, 2023

Location: Rogers Centre in Toronto, ON

TV: Sportsnet

Odds/Point Spread: Chicago (-102) Toronto (-118)

Rogers Centre is the site where the Toronto Blue Jays (65-52) will take on the Chicago Cubs (59-56) on Saturday. The moneyline on this contest has the Cubs at -102 while the Blue Jays are priced at -118. The betting total is set at 8.5. The expected starting pitchers are Drew Smyly and Chris Bassitt.

As a squad, the Chicago Cubs are putting up 5.1 runs per game, which ranks them 5th in MLB. They have notched a total of 582 runs scored while having a team on-base percentage of .334. The Cubs have hit 186 doubles as a team and have hit 139 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accounted for 558 runs batted in in addition to 1,002 hits on the year, and their team batting average is at .256. Chicago is slugging .420 and have struck out 1,041 times, while taking a walk on 415 occasions.

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They have accumulated a K/BB ratio of 2.64 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.28. Cubs pitchers have conceded 130 long balls in addition to 516 total runs (16th in the league). Chicago has surrendered 945 base hits (8.4 per 9 innings) and 469 earned runs. The Cubs hold a team ERA of 4.15 this year (15th in baseball), and their staff has struck out 949 hitters. Their pitching staff has walked 359 opposing batters and their FIP is 4.24 as a squad for the season.

Cubs relief pitchers have entered the game with runners on 91 times as well as having 88 appearances in high leverage situations. The relief pitchers have racked up 57 holds on the year (17th in baseball). The Cubs bullpen have accumulated a save percentage of 70.0% and has come into the game in 88 save situations. They have 21 saves this year and have blown 9 of 30 save chances. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 155 runners this year and 27.7% of them ended up crossing the plate. The Cubs have sent 353 relievers to the hill this season.

The Cubs have transformed 69.7% of baseballs in play into outs out of their 9,153 innings on the diamond, which has them sitting 10th in professional baseball. The Chicago Cubs have earned 3,051 putouts on the campaign, as well as 1,056 assists and 59 errors. Their fielding rate is holding at .986 which puts them in 15th in professional baseball, and they have turned 102 double plays.

Smyly has taken the mound for 1,061 innings and has accumulated 1,031 K's during his pro baseball career. His earned run average is 4.21 (496 earned runs allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.279. He has conceded 1,026 hits (8.7 hits per 9 innings) and has 331 free passes. Smyly (61-55 win-loss record in his career) has earned a FIP of 4.38 while going up against 4,483 batters in the major leagues.

The Blue Jays have a slugging percentage of .418 and they score 4.47 runs per game (16th in baseball). They have recorded 208 doubles, while walking 382 times as well as putting up 523 runs. Toronto is sitting with 135 long balls for the year and 497 runs batted in. They have been called out on strikes on 950 occasions (22nd in baseball) and have accounted for 1,049 base knocks. The Toronto Blue Jays have accumulated an on-base percentage of .331 as well as a batting average of .261 on the campaign.

The Toronto pitching staff have allowed 466 runs for the year while having an ERA of 3.73 (432 earned runs surrendered). They have given up 140 HR's and they surrender 4.02 runs per 9 innings (2nd in MLB). The Blue Jays are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.252 and have a FIP of 4.07 as a squad this season. They currently have a K/BB ratio of 9.50 (1,100 strikeouts vs 355 bases on balls). They sit at 14th in MLB as a staff in total hits allowed with 951.

Toronto relievers have an inherited score percentage of 21.3% out of 178 inherited runners. Their relief pitchers have stepped onto the mound 133 times in high leverage situations and also on 124 occasions with base runners. With 134 save situations, the Blue Jays have accrued 80 holds and also 13 blown saves. They are ranked 2nd in MLB with a save percentage of 75.9%, and they have sent 392 bullpen pitchers onto the field so far this year. Toronto has had relief pitchers enter the game in 54 save chances and they have tallied 41 saves.

The Toronto Blue Jays have gotten 93 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .988 (7th in the majors). The Blue Jays have accrued 933 assists, 50 errors and have a total of 3,131 putouts during this campaign. Out of their 9,393 innings played, the Blue Jays have a defensive efficiency of 69.2% (15th in MLB).

During his pro baseball career, Bassitt has allowed 782 hits while he has tallied 802 strikeouts in 877 innings. He has surrendered a total of 343 ER's while holding a WHIP of 1.204 and having a FIP of 3.9. His K/BB ratio is 2.93 and he has faced 3,682 hitters thus far in his career. Bassitt (57-40 mark in his career) is the owner of a 3.52 earned run average while allowing 8.0 hits per nine innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Chicago (-102)

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