Colin Rea has been an unpleasant surprise on the mound for Chicago over the past month. The right-hander is 5-5 on the season with a 5.35 ERA, and the recent trend is worse: Rea has allowed multiple runs in each of his last five outings, producing a 5.40 ERA over that stretch with just one quality start to show for it. The command that made him a serviceable rotation piece has eroded, and he carries those struggles into this afternoon against a Toronto lineup that features Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Ernie Clement — who is hitting .309 with seven home runs this season — and a patient group of hitters that knows how to work counts and apply sustained pressure. Patrick Corbin brings his own challenges to the mound, but the Jays have enough offensive quality to stay in this game regardless of what he delivers. The +1.5 cushion is the play: it accounts for the realistic scenario where Chicago scores first, and it accounts for the fact that Rea's recent form makes locking down a multi-run victory for the Cubs a difficult proposition. Wrigley favors offense on both sides, but the pitching narrative here favors Toronto staying within touching distance. Take the Blue Jays on the runline this afternoon as my MLB Game of the Week.
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Blue Jays vs. Cubs Betting Picks
Get Blue Jays vs. Cubs betting picks, expert betting analysis, computer model picks, betting consensus data, matchup breakdowns, key betting angles, and the latest odds insights for today's Blue Jays vs. Cubs game.
Public Consensus
Who was the public on? 56% of the public money was on Toronto Blue Jays to win on the moneyline. And, 56% of the bets were on the game to go OVER the total.
Computer Predictions
My computer prediction for this game was that Chicago would win by a score of 5.0 to 4.0 with Chicago winning on the moneyline and on the runline and the game going OVER the total.
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Lines & Odds
Public Consensus
Who was the public on? 64% of the public money was on Chicago Cubs to win on the moneyline. And, 63% of the bets were on the game to go OVER the total.
Computer Predictions
My computer prediction for this game was that Chicago would win by a score of 5.4 to 4.4 with Chicago winning on the moneyline, Toronto winning on the runline and the game going OVER the total.
Pro Picks
MLB
Toronto at Chicago
2:20 PM Eastern
Final Score
Lines & Odds
Public Consensus
Who was the public on? 59% of the public money was on Chicago Cubs to win on the moneyline. And, 74% of the bets were on the game to go OVER the total.
Computer Predictions
My computer prediction for this game was that Chicago would win by a score of 4.2 to 3.8 with Chicago winning on the moneyline, Toronto winning on the runline and the game going OVER the total.
Final Score
Lines & Odds
Public Consensus
Who was the public on? 60% of the public money was on Toronto Blue Jays to win on the moneyline. And, 52% of the bets were on the game to go UNDER the total.
Computer Predictions
My computer prediction for this game was that Toronto would win by a score of 4.4 to 4.1 with Toronto winning on the moneyline and on the runline and the game going OVER the total.
Pro Picks
MLB
Chicago at Toronto
3:07 PM Eastern
Chicago is on a 9-1-1 run UNDER the total. The defense is seventh in fielding percentage, while the bullpen is 13th in ERA (3.83). Starter Matthew Boyd (2.45 ERA) has 121 strikeouts in 135+ innings while holding batters to a .230 average. Toronto has its own ace going in Max Scherzer, who has 49 Ks in 47 innings. He's allowed three runs or less in his last three starts (19 innings). These teams have split the first two of this series, 5-1 and 4-1, both sailing UNDER, and this shapes up as another pitcher's duel. Take Chicago/Toronto UNDER the total.
Final Score
Lines & Odds
Public Consensus
Who was the public on? 59% of the public money was on Toronto Blue Jays to win on the moneyline. And, 57% of the bets were on the game to go UNDER the total.
Computer Predictions
My computer prediction for this game was that Toronto would win by a score of 5.0 to 4.0 with Toronto winning on the moneyline, Chicago winning on the runline and the game going OVER the total.
Final Score
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