Cubs vs Blue Jays Predictions, Picks, Odds: Toronto Tougher Than Steele

Fans and bettors will be treated to a terrific starting pitching matchup between Justin Steele and Chris Bassitt. Our MLB betting picks predict the Blue Jays will find a way to out-manufacture runs over the slumping Cubs.

Tom Oldfield - Betting Analyst at Covers.com
Tom Oldfield • Betting Analyst
Aug 12, 2023 • 11:54 ET • 4 min read
Toronto Blue Jays MLB George Springer
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

The Toronto Blue Jays are looking over their shoulders in the race for an AL wildcard spot, and they’ll try to rebound from back-to-back losses this afternoon against the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs got to Jose Berrios early in last night’s matchup, with dingers from Cody Bellinger and Nico Hoerner paving the way for a 6-2 win that keeps Chicago on the heels of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.

With Bo Bichette still sidelined, the Blue Jays’ offense hit a wall this week in Cleveland to waste quality outings from their starters, and their two runs yesterday only came after the Cubs had built a six-run lead.

Check out our free MLB picks and predictions for Cubs vs Blue Jays for a closer look at this August 12 matchup.

Cubs vs Blue Jays odds

Cubs vs Blue Jays predictions

The Blue Jays’ entire season has been wildly uneven, so it’s hardly surprising that August has continued the sense of one step forward (sweeping the Boston Red Sox and winning the opener in Cleveland) and one step back (losing three of their next four outings).

Back home last night, they never recovered from a 3-0 first-inning hole, managing just five hits as Javier Assad dominated for the Cubs.

But Chris Bassitt takes the ball for the Blue Jays today and has found his best form at home in 2023, with his ERA dipping to just 2.56 at Rogers Centre to go with a 6-2 record.

If Bassitt can give Toronto a steady start, there’s enough pop in this lineup to manufacture runs. A reversal of fortunes with runners in scoring position would certainly help too.

While the Cubs are in the thick of a pennant race, I’m sticking with the hosts here to get back to winning ways.

My best bet: Blue Jays moneyline (-119 at SIA)

Cubs vs Blue Jays same-game parlay

Blue Jays moneyline

First five innings Under 5.5

Justin Steele Over 4.5 Strikeouts

This three-leg SGP features my best bet for the game, the Blue Jays moneyline.

This has the feel of a tight pitching duel, as neither offense has been cooking lately, so I’m tacking on the Under 5.5 runs in the first five frames. Justin Steele is somewhat of a unknown for most of the Toronto hitters and should have an edge the first few times through the lineup.

I’m grabbing the Over on Steele strikeouts too, with the Cubs ace piling up six or more Ks in four of his last five starts.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

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Cubs vs Blue Jays moneyline and Over/Under analysis

While the Cubs are 7-3 over their last 10 contests, I’ve already made my pick for the Blue Jays this afternoon. The hosts can’t afford to open the door further for the surging Seattle Mariners and the rest of the Wild Card contenders.

Despite struggling to put runs on the board this week, Toronto has produced hits and set up scoring opportunities. Their inability to cash in runners has been a common theme this season, but I see George Springer leading the charge after seven hits in the Cleveland series.

The Under feels like the more obvious play this afternoon, with the Blue Jays scoring just four runs in their three-game set in Cleveland and struggling to find base hits last night. 

The Cubs got their offense going yesterday but it was otherwise a pretty fruitless week at the plate for Chicago, putting up eight runs in three games.

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Trend to know

The Under for Toronto’s first five innings team total has been a winner in 33 of the Blue Jays’ last 54 games at Rogers Centre. Find more MLB betting trends for Cubs vs. Blue Jays

Cubs vs Blue Jays game info

Location: Rogers Centre, Toronto, ON
Date: Saturday, August 12, 2023
First pitch: 3:07 p.m. ET
TV: Marquee Sports Network, Rogers Sportsnet

Starting pitchers

Justin Steele (13-3, 2.68 ERA): The Chicago lefty, an All-Star selection this year, boasts an impressive 1.17 WHIP but has faced more jams on the mound over his past two starts, giving up eight hits in each outing. He’ll face a Toronto lineup that’s hitting .276 against left-handed pitchers in 2023.

Chris Bassitt (11-6, 3.87 ERA): Bassitt continues to be a steady presence in the Toronto rotation and benefitted from major run support in a 13-1 win in his last start. After posting a 3.82 ERA in July, he’s made a strong start to August.

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Tom Oldfield - Covers
Betting Analyst

Tom Oldfield’s sports writing journey over the past 20 years has taken him from the Premier League and Champions League to the NFL, NBA, WNBA and MLB, with a wide range of articles and betting previews. Tom has worked closely with London’s Sportsbeat sports news agency as well as (thrillingly!) covering the Toronto Raptors’ 2019 NBA championship run, and he has appeared on BBC World Service and The Back Page podcast.

A graduate of the University of Nottingham in the UK, he is the author of biographies on Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Nadal, Gary Neville and Cesc Fabregas, and he co-authors a long-running series of children’s soccer books with his brother, Matt.

As a regular bettor across the top sports leagues, particularly with FanDuel and bet365, he is well versed on all the major markets and the next big game is rarely far from his thoughts. The best betting advice he has received is to monitor multiple sportsbooks to grab the best possible value.

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