Blue Jays vs Cubs: Game 1, prediction, odds, injuries and picks

The Toronto Blue Jays lock horns with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday for the first of the three games set to take place at the Rogers Centre. Toronto leads the AL East with a 69-50 record, while the Cubs, 67-50, are second in the NL Central.

Let's take a look at the odds, to get an idea of how the action might play out in Tuesday's game.

Blue Jays vs Cubs prediction

Taking the mound for the hosts is Puerto Rican Jose Berrios, who has been solid this season, boasting an 8-4 record, along with a 3.89 ERA and 116 strikeouts.

Jose Berrios in action against the Baltimore Orioles - Source: Getty

Offensively, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Ernie Clement and Addison Barger have been enjoying successful seasons for Toronto.

For the Cubs, it is young Ben Brown making his latest start. Brown has been shaky with a 5-7 season record, along with a 6.04 ERA and 104 strikeouts. At the plate, Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki and Nico Hoerner are the key players for the visitors.

Coming into this game after a morale-boosting comeback win against the Dodgers in LA, Toronto should win at the Rogers Centre where they have looked impressive all season.

Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays 5, Chicago Cubs 4

Odds

Money Line: Toronto Blue Jays -115, Chicago Cubs -102

Run Line: Toronto +1.5 (-189), Chicago -1.5 (+155)

Total Runs: Over 8.5 (-143), Under 8.5 (+117)

Injury report

Blue Jays injuries:

Andrés Giménez: 10-day IL (Ankle)
Yimi Garcia: 15-day IL (Ankle)
Nick Sandlin: 15-day IL (Elbow)
Ryan Burr: 60-day IL (Shoulder)
Shane Bieber: 60-day IL (Elbow)
Alek Manoah: 60-day IL (Elbow)
Bowden Francis: 60-day IL (Shoulder)
Anthony Santander: 60-day IL (Shoulder)
Angel Bastardo: 60-day IL (Elbow)
George Springer: 7-day IL (Head)

Cubs injuries:

Mike Soroka: 15-day IL (Shoulder)
Jameson Taillon: 15-day IL (Calf)
Justin Steele: 60-day IL (Elbow)
Javier Assad: 60-day IL (Oblique)
Miguel Amaya: 60-day IL (Oblique)
Eli Morgan: 60-day IL (Elbow)

Expert's picks

Toronto has been much more consistent than their opponents. Playing at home and with the pitching matchup leaning in their favor, the AL East leaders should be able to kick-start this series with an important win.

Money Line: Toronto Blue Jays -115

Run Line: Toronto +1.5 (-189)

Total Runs: Over 8.5 (-143)

About the author

Raghav Mehta is a baseball journalist at Sportskeeda awaiting results for a Bachelor's in Journalism from Delhi University. He enjoys highlighting the key battles between players at different stages of the game and analyzing the decisive moments upon which they hinge.

One of Raghav's favorite moments, which underscores this, was the Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Trout clash in the 2023 WBC, where two of baseball's best players faced off against each other in the 9th inning. With the score 3-2 to Japan, Shohei eventually got the strikeout, which was absolute cinema.

Raghav is a Baltimore Orioles fan and is enjoying watching such an exciting young team compete at the top in a very competitive division.

Raghav has loved watching sports for as long as he can remember and realized he was pretty decent at writing his thoughts down at around the age of 14. Combining the two meant he had something he would enjoy doing every day, and he had identified that well before going to college.

Aside from work, Raghav enjoys playing sports, working out and watching movies.

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Edited by Chaitanya Prakash

Blue Jays vs Cubs: Game 1, prediction, odds, injuries and picks - August 12, MLB 2025