Toronto Blue Jays Face Cubs with Dylan Cease on Mound

The Toronto Blue Jays are set to face the Chicago Cubs with Dylan Cease on the mound, posing a tough matchup for Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson. Swanson has been one of the worst hitters in baseball this season with a .177 batting average, and his hitting profile does not match up well against Cease's elite swing-and-miss arsenal. Cease ranks in the 99th percentile in strikeout rate with a 37% whiff rate, which could spell trouble for Swanson. And with Cease's ability to neutralize right-handed batters with his slider, Swanson's .048 batting average and 37% whiff rate against the pitch do not bode well. But George Springer is turning a corner with a 1.089 OPS over his last nine games, and profiles well against Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, who is primarily a fastball pitcher. Springer owns a .291 xBA over the last three seasons with a .613 xSLG, making him a key player to watch in this matchup. The Blue Jays have hit the moneyline in nine of their last 14 away games, and with Cease on the mound, they look to continue this trend. So the question is, can the Cubs overcome Cease's dominant pitching and take down the Blue Jays. Kazuma Okamoto's hitting profile matches up perfectly against Imanaga's stuff, and he is a good pick for a home run. The Cubs starter throws a heavy dose of the fastball and gets barreled up at a 10.4% rate, which could lead to a big game for Okamoto. The Blue Jays are looking to win this game and stay competitive in the American League, and with Cease and Springer leading the way, they have a good chance of doing so.