Toronto Blue Jays face Chicago Cubs in matinee makeup game

By Liam Tremblay — 6 August 2026 — 3 min read

Blue Jays aim to build on recent performance

The Toronto Blue Jays are set to play a makeup game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday afternoon. This contest, originally scheduled for June 21, was postponed due to rain and is now being played on what was initially an off day for both teams. The game comes shortly after a significant trade between the two clubs, where the Blue Jays sent pitcher Kevin Gausman to the Cubs in exchange for position player prospects Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene.

The Blue Jays have recently shown improved form, winning three consecutive series. Despite this, the team holds a 54-61 record and is three games out of a wild-card spot in the American League. The team could draw inspiration from past seasons, referencing the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers, who made post-season runs after being multiple games back in August.

Toronto will feature their new ace, Dylan Cease, on the mound. Cease recently earned the American League Pitcher of the Month award and was named to the July MLB Team of the Month. His July performance included a 1.00 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 11 walks over five starts. Notably, he had a no-hit bid broken up in the ninth inning on July 8 against the San Francisco Giants and pitched a complete-game one-hitter against the Boston Red Sox on July 25. He is currently second in American League Cy Young award odds, behind Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler. Cease’s season statistics include a 2.41 ERA, 174 strikeouts, and 51 walks across 119.1 innings.

Cubs counter with Peterson; Suzuki to DH

The Cubs will counter with pitcher David Peterson, who had a 5.57 ERA with 12 strikeouts and 10 walks in July. Peterson, a southpaw, was an all-star in 2025 but has a 5.52 ERA this season. He was acquired by the Cubs from the New York Mets on June 25 for minor-leaguer Cole Mathis.

In their lineup for the game, the Cubs have made a change, with Seiya Suzuki serving as the designated hitter. This move is intended to allow Suzuki to focus solely on batting. The Cubs’ batting order for the game includes P. Crow-Armstrong in center field, Suzuki as DH, M. Busch at first base, A. Bregman at third base, I. Happ in left field, N. Hoerner at second base, M. Conforto in right field, D. Swanson at shortstop, and M. Amaya catching Peterson.

Suzuki is having a productive season for the Cubs, typically batting second in the lineup. Across 98 games played, he is batting .273 with 19 home runs and 64 RBI, and an OPS+ of 135. He has maintained an OPS+ of 120 or higher in each of the last four seasons. The Cubs are looking to continue their strong performance, having recently swept the Los Angeles Dodgers, and are aiming to close the gap on the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central.

Guerrero Jr. out of Blue Jays lineup

For the Blue Jays, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will not be in the lineup for Thursday’s game. He was also out of the lineup for Wednesday’s series finale against the Astros. Blue Jays manager John Schneider described Guerrero as feeling “tight and tired.” This marks Guerrero’s seventh missed game of the season, a new career high for him. Schneider stated it was a “day off” for Guerrero amidst a demanding schedule of 17 consecutive games and 30 games in 31 days. Guerrero is dealing with hamstring tightness and other issues, though he reportedly wants to contribute more to the team.

Guerrero has recorded the lowest offensive numbers of his career in 2026, with six home runs, 44 RBI, and a .687 OPS entering Thursday’s game. The game is scheduled to begin at 2:20 p.m. ET.

Source: sportsnet.ca