As the playoff race intensifies, two contenders from opposite leagues meet in a pivotal interleague showdown. The Toronto Blue Jays (69-50) welcome the Chicago Cubs (67-50) to Rogers Centre on Tuesday night to kick off a three-game series between postseason hopefuls.
First pitch is set for 7:07 p.m. EDT, with Jose Berríos (8-4, 3.89 ERA) getting the nod for Toronto against Chicago’s Ben Brown (5-7, 6.04 ERA).
A Tale of Two Contenders
The Blue Jays enter the series on top of the AL East, backed by one of the best home records in baseball at 38-19. Toronto has wielded a powerful offense all season, ranking seventh in the majors in slugging percentage (.428). The lineup has been red-hot, hitting .323 as a team over the last 10 games and outscoring opponents by 22 runs in that span.
Ernie Clement continues to be a spark plug, racking up 23 doubles, eight homers, and 36 RBIs, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is heating up with 14 hits in his last 43 at-bats, including four home runs.
The Cubs, meanwhile, remain in the thick of the NL Central race, sitting in second place and just two games behind the division lead. Their recent stretch hasn’t been as explosive offensively, but their pitching staff has posted a stingy 2.86 ERA over the last 10 games.
Kyle Tucker leads the way with 18 homers, 76 walks, and 62 RBIs while maintaining a .271 average. Dansby Swanson is also finding his rhythm, hitting .289 over his last 10 games with a pair of home runs.
Key Matchup: Berríos vs. Brown
Tuesday’s pitching duel features two arms trending in different directions. Toronto’s Jose Berríos has been a steady presence in the rotation, striking out 116 batters over 22 starts and maintaining a respectable 1.27 WHIP.
Cubs right-hander Ben Brown, on the other hand, has had an up-and-down season with a 6.04 ERA across his outings, though his 104 strikeouts show he can miss bats when he’s on.
The game also pits a power-heavy Blue Jays offense against a Cubs team that thrives when keeping the ball in the yard — Chicago holds a 29-10 record in games where they haven’t allowed a home run.
Series Significance
This marks the first meeting of the season between the two clubs — and with both teams firmly in the playoff mix, the outcome could carry weight down the stretch.
Toronto will aim to extend its strong run at home, while the Cubs look to prove they can win critical games on the road — where they’ve gone a respectable 31-28 this season.
Injury Notes
Both clubs are navigating significant injuries:
- Blue Jays: Outfielder George Springer remains on the 7-day IL (head), while Shane Bieber, Anthony Santander, and Alek Manoah headline a long list of players on the 60-day IL.
- Cubs: The rotation has been hit hard, with Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, and Javier Assad all on the injured list.
What’s Next
With two evenly matched teams and playoff pressure building, this series could be a tone-setter heading into the final stretch of the season. Expect a mix of power hitting, emotional returns, and big-game intensity in what promises to be a compelling interleague battle in Toronto.
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