On Tuesday, April 23, the Houston Astros will arrive in Chicago for their third series against the Cubs since 2019. Despite having won their division for seven straight years, 2024 is shaping up to be a rough season for manager Joe Espada’s team.
On the other hands, the Chicago Cubs look like a team that is finally hitting their stride. Despite losing some key figures in the offseason, the team’s 13-9 record puts them within a pair of games of the Milwaukee Brewers. With a strong performance in this series, the Cubs could rise to the top position in the NL Central.
Astros vs Cubs Preview
As stated, these two teams do not know each other very well. When the two faced off last season for the first time in four years, Houston swept the series. Now, after being swept by the Atlanta Braves last week, Houston was outscored 14-10 this weekend, dropping two to the Nationals.
“The Houston Astros are 7-16. The Oakland Athletics are 8-14” – Dallas Texas TV
The three games series will kick off at 6:40 CST from Wrigley Field on Chicago’s north side on Tuesday. Wednesday’s first pitch is set for the same time, while Thursday’s 1:20 pm start time will mark an afternoon affair.
Astros vs Cubs Probable Pitchers
Game 1
Struggling right hander Hunter Brown is slated to make his sixth start of the season on Tuesday, with hopes of turning things around. Browne currently owns a 9.68 ERA and a 0-4 record on the season. On April 11, Browne was shelled by the Kansas City Royals, allowing nine earned runs in just 0.2 of an inning. In his two starts since, Browne has coughed up five runs in ten total innings.
“Hunter Brown had a ROUGH start vs. the Royals today” – ESPN Bet
For the Cubs, sophomore southpaw Jordan Hicks will get the ball. Last season, the Arkansas-native went 4-1, pitching to a 4.41 ERA. However, the 24-year old is still searching for his first win of the season.
Game 2
The Houston Astros will likely trot out right hander JP France for the second match of the series. France made a strong impression last season, going 11-6 with a 3.83 ERA in 24 appearances. So far in 2024, France owns an ERA over seven, largely due to his eight runs allowed across four innings of work against the Texas Rangers on April 12.
France will be staring down Chicago Cubs starter Jameson Taillon. Taillon, 6-foot-5, missed the start of the season on account of injury, and will thus be making his second start of the year. The Florida-native earned his first win of the season after allowing just one earned run in five innings against the Miami Marlins on April 19.
“Jameson Taillon’s 2Ks in the 1st.” – Pitching Ninja
Game 3
Another player who missed the start of the season to injury, Justin Verlander, is back for his nineteenth MLB season. Last Friday, the 41-year old three-time Cy Young allowed two runs in six innings against the Washington Nationals to earn his first win of the season.
“18 innings without an earned run to start Shota Imanaga’s MLB career” – FOX Sports: MLB
For the Cubs, Japanese flamethrower Shota Imanaga will be on the bump in the series finale. Imanaga, 30, signed a two-year, $22.5 million deal with the Cubs in the offseason, and has thus gone 3-0. earning himself an ERA of just 0.84 in the process.
Astros vs Cubs Predictions
Coming into the series, the Chicago Cubs have won seven of their last ten games, owing to some very hot swinging by some top names. Cody Bellinger and Nico Hoerner have hit .348 and .438 respectively over the past seven games, and their pitching has been far more consistent than the Astros’ hitters.
For Houston, unreliable starting pitching has been an Achillies heel this season. The team ranks 26th out of 30 teams when it comes to starting ERA, with two pitchers set to pitch in this series, France and Brown, being prime culprits.
Based on the available information, falling two games to one looks like the most distinct possibility from an Astros perspective. Perhaps Verlander will stand tall against Imanaga in the final game of the set to save the series for his team.
