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Series Preview: Blue Jays look to keep momentum going in series against Cubs
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Photo credit: © David Banks-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jun 19, 2026, 10:15 EDTUpdated: Jun 19, 2026, 17:12 EDT
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It looks like the Toronto Blue Jays are finally getting going.
For the first time since the series opener all way back in March, the Blue Jays swept a series. Facing their American League East division rivals, the Boston Red Sox, the Jays bats came alive and took all three games. Not only was it their first series sweep in a while, but it also got them to one game behind .500… again.
Davis Schneider continued to dominate at Fenway Park, while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finally got off the schneid, hitting his fourth home run of the season.
They’ll play another team with a historical ballpark, as they head to Chicago to face the Cubs for a three-game weekend series at Wrigley Field. Let’s take a look at how the Cubs have been doing in 2026.

Examining the Cubs

It’s been an odd season for the Cubs. Heading into April 14th’s game, they were 7-9, but kick-started a 10-game winning streak. After three consecutive losses, they picked up another 10 game winning streak, going 20-3 in a 23-game span.
They lost their next four, took three of four, and then lost 10 consecutive games. This was all before the end of May, mind you. Since snapping the losing streak, they’ve been playing .500 baseball, and enter Friday’s series opener with a 39-36 record.
While they’ve been streaky, their offence is solid. This season, Cubs’ hitters are slashing .241/.333/.398 with 87 home runs, good for a 107 wRC+ that’s tied for third-best in the league. However, their home run total ranks in the middle of the pack, as does their 21.3 K%. They have done a good job at drawing walks this season, as their 10.9 BB% is third-best in Major League Baseball.
It’s been their starting pitching that has hampered this team. This season, the starters have a 4.71 ERA and 4.70 FIP, ranking fourth-worst and sixth-worst respectively. Cubs’ starters have a 21.3 K%, 10th lowest in the league, but have a 7.5 BB%, tied for fifth-best in the league. On top of that, Cubs’ starting pitching has surrendered 69 home runs, second-most in the league, one behind the Athletics.
Their bullpen has been hit or miss, though. This season, the Cubs’ bullpen has a 3.66 ERA, 10th-best in MLB, but their FIP of 4.52 ranks eighth-worst. Cubs’ relievers have a 21 K% (10th-lowest), but have a 9.3 BB%, which is in the middle of the pack. As for the long ball, they’ve surrounded 41 home runs, eighth-most for any bullpen in the league.

One player to watch: Pete Crow-Armstrong

Of course, the player to watch in this series will be a position player. I chose Pete Crow-Armstrong, who is slashing .276/.349/.505 with 15 home runs for a team-leading 137 wRC+.
The outfield has been one of the hottest batters for the last month or so, slashing .366/.431/.772 with 10 home runs in 116 plate appearances since May 22nd. That’s good for a 226 wRC+, all while providing the best outfield defence in baseball. Pretty darn good player.
Crow-Armstong has been in the news lately as well, hitting for the cycle on June 15th against the Colorado Rockies. He’s a very dangerous hitter, but he’s not the only one.

Quick Hits

  • On top of PCA, there are seven other players on the roster with 100 or more plate appearances and a wRC+ of 100 or better. Ian Happ’s 16 home runs lead the team, Michel Busch has a 125 wRC+, and Seiya Suzuki is the other player with double-digit home runs. Michael Conforto, Miguel Amaya, Matt Shaw, and Carson Kelly have fewer than 200 plate appearances, but have too advantage of their playing time.
  • This doesn’t even mention Alex Bregman and Dansby Swanson. Both players have had tough seasons, but are still capable of being impact players. Bregman has six long balls in 337 plate appearances this season
  • The Cubs’ rotation isn’t great, but the exception to the norm is Ben Brown, Friday afternoon’s starter. Coming into the series opener, the 26-year-old righty is rocking a 1.74 ERA and 2.35 FIP in 62 innings pitched, starting seven of the 19 games he’s appeared in.
  • Colin Rea is set to start Saturday’s game. This season, the veteran righty has a 5.35 ERA and 5.03 FIP in 74 games, well up from his 3.95 ERA and 4.11 FIP last season. On Sunday, lefty Shōta Imanaga makes the start for the Cubs. It’s been a pretty rough season for him as well, authoring a 4.26 ERA and 4.57 FIP in 86.2 innings of work this season.
  • The Blue Jays counter Brown with Kevin Gausman, Rea with Patrick Corbin, and Imanaga with Dylan Cease.
  • If the Jays take at least two of three, their record will return to .500 for the first time since May 29th. They haven’t had a record above .500 since before April 4th’s game, ironically also in Chicago.

Probable pitchers

Friday: Kevin Gausman/Ben Brown
Saturday: Patrick Corbin/Colin Rea
Sunday: Dylan Cease/Shōta Imanaga

Game times

Friday: 2:20 PM ET
Saturday: 2:20 PM ET
Sunday: 2:20 PM ET
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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