The Toronto Blue Jays take the field at Rogers Centre on August 12, 2025, against the Chicago Cubs as modest home favorites, aiming to leverage their strong run-line performance this season and home-park advantages to secure another win in their postseason push. The pitching assignment goes to veteran right-hander José Berríos, whose season has been defined by consistency when he gets ahead early, using a well-located fastball to set up his slurve and changeup, particularly effective against right-handed hitters. His primary challenge against Chicago will be avoiding the one crooked inning that has occasionally marred otherwise strong outings, which means commanding the glove side and staying unpredictable with his pitch mix the second and third time through the order. Offensively, Toronto has built its scoring profile around on-base skill at the top of the order and dangerous power in the middle, with hitters capable of turning the game in their favor with a single swing in Rogers Centre’s carry-friendly conditions. The key will be to apply immediate pressure on Cubs starter Ben Brown by attacking first-pitch strikes to avoid falling into pitcher-friendly counts and forcing him to work from behind, where mistakes are more likely to find the barrel.

The Blue Jays’ lineup depth gives them the flexibility to extend innings, grind down pitch counts, and create opportunities for big innings without relying solely on home runs. Defensively, Toronto must play clean to limit Chicago’s chances for extra bases, as the Cubs’ athleticism on the basepaths can turn singles into scoring threats if cutoff and relay execution slips. The bullpen, which has settled into a reliable late-inning structure, will be tasked with preserving any lead, using matchup-driven decisions to neutralize Chicago’s power bats while keeping traffic to a minimum. From a betting standpoint, Toronto’s above-.500 ATS record reflects their ability to not only win but win by margins, making them a credible run-line play when the offense capitalizes on scoring chances and the pitching staff limits damage in high-leverage spots. Strategically, the Jays will want to control the tempo of the game—quick, efficient innings from Berríos, early runs from the offense, and an aggressive but smart approach on the bases to keep pressure on Chicago’s defense. If Toronto can reach Brown’s pitch count ceiling by the fifth inning and expose the middle of the Cubs’ bullpen while avoiding defensive lapses, they’ll put themselves in prime position to secure both the win and the cover. With their combination of veteran pitching, lineup depth, and a bullpen capable of closing out tight games, the Blue Jays enter Tuesday night with a blueprint built for success at home and the expectation that clean execution in all three phases will translate into another step forward in their postseason chase.