The Chicago Cubs have had an impressive weekend against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.
It started with Seiya Suzuki delivering a game-winning hit in extra innings on Friday. And in a win Saturday, Chicago received clutch extra-base hits from Ian Happ and Michael Busch, along with a solid effort from its bullpen following two rain delays.
“(The bullpen) has been awesome,” Busch said in Saturday’s post-game interview via the Marquee Sports Network. “No matter who we were throwing out there, they put together what they had on the mound. For our team, it’s huge. It’s something they’ve been doing consistently for a while now.”
The Cubs continue to be in the National League wild-card race and are eyeing a sweep of the three-game series against Toronto. Chicago enters play Sunday 4 1/2 games out of the final wild-card spot.
All-Star Shota Imanaga (9-2, 3.16 ERA) will start for Chicago and square off against Toronto’s Bowden Francis (5-3, 4.92).
Chicago is looking to redeem itself after being swept by the Cleveland Guardians earlier in the week. That came after the Cubs compiled an 8-2 record between July 31 and Aug. 10.
The Blue Jays hope to return to Toronto on Monday with a winning road trip. Toronto swept the Los Angeles Angels, then hit a roadblock against the Cubs. Despite a Saturday matinee that rolled out two rain delays, Blue Jays starter Chris Bassitt shook off the wait time and put together five efficient innings, giving up three runs and five hits in taking the loss.
“You just have to understand your body and how much you need to throw to stay loose. It’s pretty easy to overdo. It’s also pretty easy to not be prepared,” Bassitt said via Sportsnet. “I was like, just deal. Just deal with the hand you’re dealt. It is what it is. Just glad no one got hurt. I mean, obviously, no one can play Mother Nature and not let it rain. Overall, it was fine.”
Imanaga heads into Sunday’s start striving to bounce back from his previous start. On Monday against the Guardians, he went five innings in a no-decision but allowed seven runs (three earned) on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts. Two of those hits were homers.
In five starts since the All-Star break, Imanaga has one win and four no-decisions with 33 strikeouts in 31 1/3 innings pitched. The left-hander, however, has allowed at least one home run in each of his second-half starts and 19 for the season.
A rookie, Imanaga never has faced Toronto.
Francis won his most recent start. The right-hander pitched seven innings and allowed a run, a hit and no walks with eight strikeouts on Monday against the Angels in a 4-2 game.
August has been the best month for Francis in 2024. He has a 1-1 record with a 2.19 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings.
This will be the first start for Francis against the Cubs. Last season, he threw 3 2/3 innings of hitless relief in a 6-2 Blue Jays loss.
Toronto shortstop Leo Jimenez left Saturday’s game with right knee soreness, lifted for a pinch hitter in the second inning. The Blue Jays listed him as day-to-day.
