Toronto Blue Jays vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 8/17/2024 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Toronto Blue Jays vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Saturday, August 17, 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 Saturday. The pitchers taking the mound will be Chris Bassitt and Justin Steele.

The Blue Jays have accumulated 210 two-baggers as a team and have smacked 113 balls out of the stadium. Toronto has a slugging percentage of .384 and have struck out 910 times, while taking a walk on 389 occasions. As a squad, the Toronto Blue Jays are putting up 4.2 runs/g, which puts them at 22nd in baseball. They have recorded 479 RBI's and 957 base knocks on the season, and their batting average comes in at .239. They have racked up 504 runs scored while holding a team OBP of .313.

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The Blue Jays have a team ERA of 4.54 for the year (27th in baseball), and their staff has rung up 978 hitters. Blue Jays pitchers have allowed 167 home runs in addition to 581 total runs (26th in baseball). Their pitching staff has walked 384 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 4.61 as a unit for the year. Toronto has conceded 1,021 hits (8.6 per 9 innings) in addition to 537 earned runs. They have earned a K/BB ratio of 2.55 and the pitching staff has earned a collective WHIP of 1.32.

The Blue Jays have sent 408 relievers to the mound for the season. The relief pitchers have inherited 189 base runners for the year and 31.2% of them ended up crossing the plate. They have accumulated 30 saves so far this season and have blown 15 of 45 save chances. The Blue Jays relievers have a save rate of 66.7% and has come into the game in 116 save situations. The relievers have notched 68 holds on the campaign (13th in the league). Blue Jays pitchers have entered the contest with players on base 119 times and also have had 92 appearances in high leverage situations.

The Toronto Blue Jays have accumulated 3,196 putouts this year, as well as 1,006 assists and 69 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding at .984 which puts them in 23rd in MLB, and they have turned 90 double plays. The Blue Jays have converted 69.9% of balls in play into outs out of 9,588 innings, which has them sitting 15th in baseball.

Bassitt (71-53 career win-loss mark) sits with a FIP of 3.54 while going up against 4,503 opposing hitters during his time in the majors. He has given up 971 base hits (8.2 hits per nine innings) and has had 339 free passes. His earned run average is 3.59 (427 earned runs allowed) and his WHIP is 1.224. Bassitt has taken the hill for 1,070 innings and has earned 986 punch outs so far in his MLB career.

Chicago has 124 home runs so far this year as well as 483 runs batted in. They have 188 doubles, while taking a walk 400 times as well as putting up 513 runs. The Chicago Cubs hold an OBP of .311 in addition to a batting average of .235 so far this year. The Cubs have a slugging percentage of .384 and they are earning 4.20 runs per game (21st in baseball). They have been called out on strikes on 1,052 occasions (12th in the league) and have earned a total of 957 base knocks.

The Chicago pitching staff have allowed 510 runs over the course of the season while holding an ERA of 3.75 (448 earned runs surrendered). They have conceded 130 homers and they yield 4.27 runs per 9 innings (12th in MLB). The Cubs have a WHIP of 1.236 in addition to having a FIP of 3.95 as a staff so far this year. They currently have a K/BB ratio of 8.60 (1,033 strikeouts against 360 walks). They have a ranking of 11th in baseball as a staff in total hits relinquished with 969.

Chicago relief pitchers have an inherited score rate of 30.9% of 162 inherited base runners. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 131 times in high leverage situations and on 110 occasions with runners on. With 101 save situations, the Cubs have 53 holds and also 21 blown saves. They rank 25th in the league holding a save percentage of 55.3%, and they have sent 366 relief pitchers onto the diamond on the season. Chicago has had relievers enter the game in 47 save opportunities and they have recorded 26 saves.

In 9,675 innings played, the Cubs have a defensive efficiency of 70.4% (11th in MLB). The Chicago Cubs have turned 65 double plays and hold a fielding percentage of .986 (11th in professional baseball). The Cubs have recorded 971 assists, 60 errors and have a tally of 3,225 putouts this season.

In his career, Steele has conceded 423 base knocks while he has accumulated 473 strikeouts in 463 innings pitched. He has given up 168 earned runs while earning a WHIP of 1.224 and a FIP of 3.2. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.28 and he has faced 1,948 opposing hitters in his MLB career. Steele (27-21 career record) has a 3.26 earned run average and has conceded 8.2 hits per nine innings.

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

Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Toronto

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