Toronto rolls in as the reigning AL champ that hasn't quite looked the part. They're 3 games under .500, just dropped 2 of 3 to the Yankees at home last week, and then bounced back Tuesday in Boston with a 6-1 win to steady things. Chicago, meanwhile, sits at 38-36 after splitting the Giants series on the road and stubbing its toe Tuesday night against the Rockies, 5-2.
The rotation picture is where this series gets interesting. Shota Imanaga has been the anchor for the Cubs all season, and Edward Cabrera — the offseason trade get from Miami — just notched the win over Colorado on Thursday with 5.1 innings of 2-run ball. How Craig Counsell aligns those two across the 3-game set could decide the weekend. Saturday's starter wasn't locked in as of the last update, so keep an eye on the probables board.
Toronto's injury list is the real headline. Jose Berrios is gone after Tommy John, Shane Bieber is still rehabbing in the minors, and Bowden Francis is on the 60-day. Add Anthony Santander and Addison Barger out of the outfield, plus Daulton Varsho only just resuming swings in the cage on his wrist rehab, and John Schneider is patching lineups together. That's a big reason the Jays' record doesn't match the talent on paper.
- Day-To-DayGeovanny Jesus Planchart C — no
- Day-To-DayChay Yeager RP — Yeager will undergo season-ending UCL surgery on his right elbow Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
- 10-Day-ILDaulton Varsho CF — Varsho (wrist) is beginning to feel better and resumed hitting in the batting cages Wednesday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports
- 10-Day-ILAddison Barger RF — The Blue Jays are hoping to send Barger (elbow) on a rehab assignment next week, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
- 10-Day-ILLenyn Sosa 2B — Sosa went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an additional run and an additional RBI on Saturday against the Twins in an 11-4 victory.
- developmental listFernando Perez P
- 60-Day-ILShane Bieber SP — Toronto announced that Bieber (elbow) will make another rehab start Wednesday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILYimi Garcia RP — Garcia (elbow) has yet to pitch on back-to-back days during his rehab assignment, or even twice in three days, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
- Day-To-DayEdward Cabrera SP — Cabrera (4-3) notched the win over Colorado on Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five batters over 5.1 innings.
- Day-To-DayJaxon Wiggins SP — The Cubs announced Wednesday that Wiggins (elbow) has resumed throwing bullpen sessions and facing hitters at the organization's complex in Arizona and could soon be ready to pitch in games, MLB.com reports.
- Day-To-DayBrandon Birdsell RP — Birdsell (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reports.
- Day-To-DayJeff Brigham RP — Brigham was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul, retroactive to April 6, with a left oblique strain, TwinsDaily.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILDaniel Palencia RP — Palencia (2-1) worked around a walk to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn the win in Monday's 5-4 victory over the Rockies. He struck out three.
- 15-Day-ILMatthew Boyd SP — Boyd (knee/shoulder) will throw an up-down bullpen session Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
- 15-Day-ILJameson Taillon SP — Taillon (hamstring) is expected to be sidelined until after the All-Star break, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
- 15-Day-ILRiley Martin RP — Martin has been diagnosed with flexor strain in his left elbow and is expected to miss eight weeks, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The Cubs aren't exactly fully stocked either. Justin Steele, Cade Horton, and Jameson Taillon are all out — Taillon until after the All-Star break — and Matthew Boyd is still working back from the knee/shoulder issue with an up-down bullpen this week. Daniel Palencia going down with a 15-day IL stint right after picking up the win Monday over Colorado is the latest bullpen wrinkle Counsell has to navigate.
First pitch is 1:20 PM CT for Saturday's middle game of the 3-game set. Wrigley in mid-June with the wind blowing out is the great equalizer — and against a Jays staff missing a chunk of its top arms, the Cubs lineup with Bregman, Imanaga's run support and the rest should like the matchup. The series opener Friday will set the tone, but Saturday is the one where a struggling Toronto rotation feels most exposed.