Toronto Blue Jays vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 8/16/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Toronto Blue Jays vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Friday, August 16, 2024

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Sportsnet

The Chicago Cubs (59-63) host the Toronto Blue Jays (57-64) at Wrigley Field on Friday. The starting pitchers will be Yariel Rodriguez and Kyle Hendricks.

The Blue Jays have tallied 210 doubles as a team and have knocked 113 balls out of the park. Toronto has a slugging % of .384 and have been called out on strikes 910 times, while drawing a walk on 389 occasions. As a unit, the Toronto Blue Jays are notching 4.2 runs per contest, which is 22nd in the league. They have earned 479 RBI's and 957 base knocks on the season, and their batting average is at .239. They have notched a total of 504 runs and hold an OBP of .313.

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They have a strikeout to walk ratio of 2.55 and their pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.32. Blue Jays pitchers have allowed 167 long balls in addition to 581 total runs (26th in the league). Toronto has given up 1,021 base hits (8.6 per 9 innings) and 537 earned runs. The Blue Jays hold a team earned run average of 4.54 so far this year (27th in the league), and they have struck out 978 batters. Their pitching staff has walked 384 hitters and their FIP is 4.61 as a unit this year.

The Blue Jays have sent 408 relievers to the mound on the campaign. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 189 runners for the year and 31.2% of those players ended up scoring. They have compiled 30 saves over the course of the season and have blown 15 of 45 save opportunities. The Blue Jays bullpen have a save percentage of 66.7% and stepped onto the hill in 116 save situations. The relief pitchers have recorded 68 holds this year (13th in baseball). Blue Jays relief pitchers have come into the game with runners on base 119 times as well as having 92 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Blue Jays have converted 69.9% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 9,588 innings on the diamond, which has them ranked 15th in the majors. The Toronto Blue Jays have earned 3,196 putouts this year, in addition to 1,006 assists and 69 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .984 which has them sitting 23rd in baseball, and have accumulated 90 double plays.

Rodriguez has taken the hill for 50 innings and has accounted for 52 K's in his career. Rodriguez (1-5 win-loss record in his career) has earned a FIP of 3.55 and he has faced 214 opposing hitters in the majors. His earned run average is 3.60 (20 earned runs allowed) and his career WHIP is 1.300. He has allowed 40 base hits (7.2 hits per 9 innings) and has 25 walks.

The Cubs have a slugging percentage of .384 and they score 4.20 runs per outing (21st in the league). They have 188 doubles, while getting a free base 400 times and notching 513 runs. Chicago is sitting with 124 home runs for the season to go along with 483 runs batted in. They have been called out on strikes on 1,052 occasions (12th in MLB) and have a total of 957 hits. The Chicago Cubs have an OBP of .311 and a batting average of .235 for the year.

The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 510 runs this year while having an ERA of 3.75 (448 earned runs relinquished). They have allowed 130 long balls and they allow 4.27 runs per 9 innings (12th in the league). The Cubs have a WHIP of 1.236 and have a FIP of 3.95 as a pitching staff so far this year. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 8.60 (1,033 strikeouts vs 360 walks). They come in at 11th in MLB as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 969.

With 101 save situations, the Cubs have amassed 53 holds in addition to 21 blown saves. Chicago has called on bullpen pitchers to enter the game in 47 save opportunities and they have walked away with 26 saves. Their bullpen pitchers have come in 131 times in high leverage situations in addition to 110 occasions with base runners. Chicago relief pitchers hold an inherited score percentage of 30.9% of 162 inherited base runners. They are ranked 25th in the league with a save percentage of 55.3%, and they have sent 366 bullpen pitchers onto the diamond so far this year.

The Chicago Cubs have gotten 65 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .986 (11th in the majors). The Cubs have recorded 971 assists, 60 errors and have accounted for 3,225 putouts so far this year. In their 9,675 innings played, the Cubs have earned a efficiency on defense of 70.4% (11th in baseball).

So far in his MLB career, Hendricks has surrendered 1,459 base hits while accumulating 1,237 punch outs in 1,540 innings pitched. Hendricks (96-79 career mark) holds a 3.67 earned run average while allowing 8.5 hits per nine innings. He has given up 628 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.173 and a FIP of 3.6. He has a K/BB ratio of 3.55 and he has gone up against 6,345 batters in his MLB career.

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

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Toronto

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