Blue Jays cap off a wild day at Wrigley Field by capping off a wild win

Thunderstorms could affect the series finale Sunday

Published Jun 20, 2026  •  Last updated 18 minutes ago  •  4 minute read

Patrick Corbin of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 20, 2026 in Chicago. Photo by Sage Zipeto /Getty Images

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The way the Blue Jays’ game against the Chicago Cubs began on Saturday, a repeat of the Friday folly was well in the cards at Wrigley Field.

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No signs of offence could be seen, no pitching being provided, no reason to believe the host Cubs wouldn’t replicate their 16-2 beatdown in the series opener.

Baseball, as we’ve come to learn, is a fickle business, one swing, one hit, one pitch in a big moment capable of shifting momentum.

The Blue Jays created their opportunity in the eighth inning, with runners on the corner and trailing by two runs.

They suddenly trailed by one after Alejandro Kirk’s full-count pinch-hit single, and then drew even on a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. single

Two batters later and one belt off the bat of Kazuma Okamoto and the Jays were leading 8-5 in one of the most unlikely and unpredictable turnarounds of the season.

Of the eight runs, six came off two hits, both three-run dingers.

The fun didn’t end there.

The Cubs led off the home half of the eighth by recording two straight singles off Mason Fluharty.

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A third hit followed to load the bases.

Enter Blue Jays reliever Louis Varland in the most difficult of save situations, knowing he would have to record six outs.

Only one run scored on a fielder’s choice.

In the ninth, the Cubs had the tying run at the plate, but Varland delivered to record the save of the season.

Toronto’s 8-6 comeback win ranks among the best of the season for the club with multiple players stepping up.

The following are three takeaways on a day Daulton Varsho returned from a stint on the IL, belting his sixth homer of the season, a three-run blast in the seventh inning.

CONCERNS FOR CORBIN

On a day it was revealed Shane Bieber would make his season debut Monday, Patrick Corbin, who started Saturday, was again exposed.

Clearly, he has exceeded all expectations when the Jays were desperate for pitching help and reached out to the veteran, whom the club signed to a $1-million deal.

Regardless of what the future holds for Corbin, it was money well spent.

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One day after Kevin Gausman went only two innings in an eventual 16-2 loss, Corbin managed 3.2 innings.

In each of his past three starts, including Saturday, Corbin couldn’t complete four innings.

Prior to this recent run of inefficiency, Corbin had pitched at least four complete innings in each of his first 11 starts with the club.

When he was pulled against the Cubs, Corbin left the bases loaded with two outs.

Lazaro Estrada, who was called up earlier in the day, was making his fourth career appearance in the major leagues, and first for the Jays since way back earlier in the season when the club was in Chicago’s South Side opposing the host White Sox.

Estrada is coming off a shoulder impingement setback that placed him on the 60-day injured list.

The scenario on Friday, when Gausman lasted only two innings, would have been ideal for a bulk reliever such as Estrada.

That’s the way things have gone for the Jays.

In the sixth inning, Estrada gave up a two-run homer as the Cubs took a 5-0 lead.

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HIP HIP HOORAY

For two straight days, the Jays’ starting lineup did not feature Ernie Clement, who had been nursing left hip soreness.

The team escaped Boston with a sweep, courtesy of a signature at-bat Thursday from rookie Brandon Valenzuela.

Valenzuela hit cleanup Saturday.

With the Jays needing more base-runners in the seventh, they turned to Clement.

He popped out to short for the final out.

In the home half, Clement was at short and immediately failed to field a routine grounder.

As much as he has carried over his hitting into this season, Clement’s defence, be it at short or at second base, has slipped.

OUTFIELD OF SCREAMS

The Jays went with their A-team in the starting outfield.

Ideally, Addison Barger and his booming arm and power at the plate would be included, but he’s on the IL.

In his absence, the Jays have trotted out Yohendrick Pinango and Jesus Sanchez.

While both have been solid at the plate, neither can defend either corner outfield position.

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With Varsho activated prior to first pitch Saturday, he was back in centre field in an outfield alignment that had Myles Straw in left and Nathan Lukes in right.

In the fourth inning with one out, a deep fly ball was hit into the gap in left.

Both Straw and Varsho were calling for the ball.

Neither heard one another and the two collided, with Straw bearing the brunt of the collision.

Varsho did secure the ball for the out.

The inning ended on a sliding catch by Lukes, who made an elite play on a slicing ball.

All three made key outs, including a Straw catch near the area spectator Steve Bartman made infamous in 2003.

UP NEXT

Sunday’s series finale is weather dependent with the forecast calling for a morning thunderstorm followed by periods of rain, some heavy, and an afternoon thunderstorm; needless to say, it’s pretty ominous and quite dubious the game (2:20 p.m. scheduled first pitch) will be played.

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