Blue Jays bring 1-0 series lead over Cubs into game 2

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Chicago Cubs (67-51, second in the NL Central) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (70-50, first in the AL East)

Toronto; Wednesday, 7:07 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Cade Horton (6-3, 3.18 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 59 strikeouts); Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman (8-8, 3.85 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 135 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Blue Jays -132, Cubs +112; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Blue Jays lead 1-0 in a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs.

Toronto has gone 39-19 in home games and 70-50 overall. Blue Jays hitters have a collective .429 slugging percentage to rank fourth in the AL.

Chicago has gone 31-29 in road games and 67-51 overall. The Cubs have the seventh-best team batting average in MLB play at .253.

The teams play Wednesday for the second time this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leads the Blue Jays with 19 home runs while slugging .490. Ernie Clement is 16 for 44 with four home runs and eight RBIs over the past 10 games.

Pete Crow-Armstrong leads the Cubs with 62 extra base hits (31 doubles, four triples and 27 home runs). Matt Shaw is 8 for 31 with two doubles, a triple, three home runs and five RBIs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jays: 6-4, .323 batting average, 4.04 ERA, outscored opponents by 25 runs

Cubs: 4-6, .223 batting average, 3.10 ERA, even run differential

INJURIES: Blue Jays: George Springer: 7-Day IL (head), Shane Bieber: 60-Day IL (elbow), Bowden Francis: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Ryan Burr: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Nick Sandlin: 15-Day IL (elbow), Yimi Garcia: 15-Day IL (ankle), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alek Manoah: 60-Day IL (elbow), Angel Bastardo: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Cubs: Mike Soroka: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jameson Taillon: 15-Day IL (calf), Eli Morgan: 60-Day IL (elbow), Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.