The Toronto Blue Jays will be looking for their sixth win in seven games as they open a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon as +155 underdogs on the MLB odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
Toronto took two of three from the visiting Tampa Bay Rays this week, capped by Wednesday’s 5-3 victory as a +156 home underdog to close out a 10-game homestand with a 7-3 record, and moved to three games back of the Los Angeles Angels for the second AL wild card going into Friday’s Blue Jays vs. Cubs betting matchup at Wrigley Field.
The Blue Jays effectively contained opposing hitters during their recent homestand, surrendering an average of just 3.2 runs per game and two or fewer runs on six occasions.
That created a boon for bettors taking the under on the totals, which has prevailed in eight of the club’s past 10 games. But the total has regularly finished over when the Blue Jays have hit the road, going 7-3 in their past 10 away from Rogers Centre. Toronto has also struggled to produce road wins of late, going 5-10 in 15 games since July 15, and recording consecutive wins just once during that stretch.
The Blue Jays have enjoyed success in recent interleague dates with the Cubs, including a dominating three-game sweep in Toronto three years ago when they outscored Chicago by a 28-3 margin. But this weekend marks just the club’s second visit to Wrigley Field in franchise history, and first since June 2005 when they took two of three from the Cubs.
Chicago returns to action as -180 home chalk on Friday after dropping a 13-10 decision to the visiting Cincinnati Reds as a heavy -245 favourite on Thursday afternoon to fall to 6-9 in its past 15 contests. The Cubs have won consecutive games just once during that stretch, but have been hitting the ball well, averaging eight runs per game over their past five, including a 15-5 pounding of the Reds as -213 chalk on Monday.
The Cubs’ recent struggles have yet to cost them top spot in the NL Central standings, where they maintain a narrow one-game lead over the surprising Milwaukee Brewers. Chicago has also seen a slight bump in its odds to repeat as World Series champions, improving to +750 after slipping to +800 in early July.
JA Happ looks to improve to 4-0 in August as the southpaw takes the hill on Friday, while the Cubs respond with Jake Arrieta, who looks for his first win at home since June 6.
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