Toronto Blue Jays vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction for Sunday, June 21, 2026
Use Code WWWC The Toronto Blue Jays visit the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Sunday at 2:20 PM ET on MLB.TV. Toronto enters at 37-39 and sits fourth in the AL East after a rough 16-2 loss in Friday’s series opener, while Chicago is 40-36 and remains third in the NL Central. The Cubs have won three of their last four games and continue to play well at home with a 23-16 record at Wrigley Field. Toronto had won three straight before Friday’s setback and will look for a quick response behind one of its top starters. Check out our free MLB picks.
Blue Jays Looking for a Strong Response
Toronto endured one of its worst performances of the season on Friday, allowing 16 runs in a game that got out of hand early. Despite the lopsided defeat, the Blue Jays had been playing solid baseball entering the series and remain within striking distance in the American League playoff race. Toronto has scored 308 runs on 634 hits while batting .249 as a team, ranking among the better clubs in baseball in overall batting average.
Kazuma Okamoto has provided much of the power with 15 home runs and 42 RBI, while Ernie Clement continues to be one of the most consistent hitters on the roster with a .294 average and 85 hits. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. owns a .276 average and .363 on-base percentage, and Jesus Sanchez is hitting .282 while providing quality production throughout the lineup.
The Blue Jays have relied heavily on pitching throughout the season. Toronto enters with a 4.01 ERA, a 1.27 WHIP, and 666 strikeouts through 76 games. That balance between starting pitching and bullpen depth has helped Toronto stay competitive despite some inconsistent offensive stretches.
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Injuries: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Day-To-Day), Ernie Clement (Day-To-Day), Daulton Varsho (10-Day IL), Yimi Garcia (60-Day IL), Lazaro Estrada (60-Day IL).
Cubs Building Momentum at Wrigley
Chicago enters this matchup with confidence after Friday’s offensive explosion. The Cubs have scored 34 runs across their last five games and continue to get contributions throughout the lineup. A 40-36 record has kept Chicago firmly in the NL Central race, and the Cubs have been especially effective on their home field this season.
Pete Crow-Armstrong has emerged as one of the team's biggest offensive threats, batting .283 with 15 home runs and 38 RBI. Ian Happ leads the club with 16 home runs, while Michael Busch has driven in 42 runs and owns a strong .377 on-base percentage. Seiya Suzuki has added 10 home runs and continues to provide middle-of-the-order production. Chicago has scored 360 runs and hit 88 home runs.
The pitching staff has produced mixed results but remains capable of keeping games under control. Chicago carries a 4.26 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and .240 opponent batting average. Limiting home runs remains a challenge, but recent performances have helped the Cubs maintain momentum.
Injuries: Jeff Brigham (60-Day IL), Jaxon Wiggins (7-Day IL), Edward Cabrera (Day-To-Day), Riley Martin (15-Day IL), Hunter Harvey (60-Day IL).
Pitching Matchup
Toronto Blue Jays – Dylan Cease (Right-Hander)
Cease enters with a 4-3 record, 2.71 ERA, and 1.19 WHIP across 73 innings. The right-hander has recorded 110 strikeouts while allowing only 56 hits. He is coming off five scoreless innings against Boston and has surrendered just one earned run over his last 11 innings.
Chicago Cubs – Shota Imanaga (Left-Hander)
Imanaga is 4-6 with a 4.26 ERA and 1.06 WHIP through 86.2 innings. The left-hander has limited opponents to 70 hits while striking out hitters consistently. He allowed just one run over 5.2 innings against Colorado in his most recent outing.
Toronto Blue Jays vs Chicago Cubs Pick
- Toronto Blue Jays
Friday's result should not overshadow the pitching advantage Toronto brings into this matchup. Cease has been the better starter throughout the season and enters in excellent form after several strong outings. The Blue Jays also own the lower team ERA and have generally received more reliable production from their pitching staff than Chicago. While the Cubs have been excellent at home, Toronto is in a favorable bounce-back spot with its ace taking the mound. Expect Cease to neutralize Chicago's lineup long enough for the Blue Jays offense to generate enough support and earn a series-leveling victory.
Toronto Blue Jays vs Chicago Cubs Over/Under Pick
- Under
This matchup features two quality starting pitchers capable of shutting down the opposing lineup. Cease has been one of the American League's most effective strikeout pitchers, while Imanaga continues to limit baserunners with an excellent WHIP. Friday's 16-2 result may push public perception toward another high-scoring game, but the pitching matchup suggests the opposite. Toronto's strength remains its pitching staff, and Chicago should have a much tougher time generating offense against Cease.
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