The Cubs are hoping to get the offense back on track in the rubber game of the series against NL Central rival Houston.
Chicago Cubs at Houston Astros
Chicago continued to offer little to no run support for starting pitcher Ted Lilly on Tuesday night, as he’s received the lowest run support of any hurler in the Major Leagues. Coming into last night’s 6-1 loss against the Astros at Minute Maid Park, he had received just 2.43 runs of support per start. “Lilly’s been a model of consistency,” manager Lou Piniella said. “He gives you a very reasonable chance of winning a baseball game when he goes out there.” The Cubs had averaged 5.93 runs per game in their last 14 contests before being shutout in the second game of this series and the club’s .300 average since July 9, was by far the highest in the National League over that span. Chicago is 24-27 in day games this season (-1,100) and the total is 23-25 O/U in those contests.
Cubs starting pitcher Randy Wells is 5-7 with a 4.07 ERA in 20 starts this season (-380) and is coming off one of his best outings of the season. The right-hander tallied a 5-0 home victory over the Cardinals, tossing seven shutout innings and allowing just five hits while striking out seven. He has a losing 2-4 mark and 4.61 ERA in nine road starts this season, with the team dropping his last four appearances away from Wrigley Field. The offense has managed to provide just seven runs over that four-game span. In four career starts versus the Astros, Wells is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA, surrendering just one home run in 26 innings. He dropped a 6-3 contest at Minute Maid Park on June 6, when surrendering six runs and nine hits over 5.1 frames.
Houston’s veteran star Lance Berkman provided his team a 442-foot lift in clearing the bases in the seventh inning with a grand slam. “I was pumped,” starting pitcher Brett Myers said. “They had one of their young studs in there that throws hard and Lance was able to turn on it.” The Astros evened up their record to 12-12 versus left-handed starters and now stand at 2-3 on the current nine-game homestand. The club has won 11 consecutive games on Wednesdays and is 12-3 overall on hump day this season. After posting a 17-34 mark through May 31, the team is 24-25 since June 1. Houston is 7-4 versus Chicago this season and looking to capture four consecutive winnings series against its rivals since winning six straight from July 1979-May 1981. The team has posted a 15-18 daytime mark (+280) and the total is 13-18 O/U in those games.
Astros starting pitcher Bud Norris is 2-7 with a 6.08 ERA in 14 starts this season (-260), as the club has dropped his last four outings overall. Over that span, he has allowed 16 runs (13 earned) and 23 hits in 25.2 innings of work. The right-hander is winless in seven home starts, posting a 0-4 mark and 7.13 ERA, even though he’s tallied 40 strikeouts in just over 35 frames. Norris has toed the rubber in just four daytime starts, going 2-1 with a 4.76 ERA compared to a 0-6 record and 6.66 ERA at night. He hasn’t faced the Cubs since making his career debut in relief on July 29, 2009, giving up a single run and three hits over three innings.
Bettors will have some interest in playing the road team this afternoon despite the club’s 2-6 mark as a road favorite of -125 to -150 (-640). Over the last three years, the Cubs stand at 28-20 in that situation (+100). It may be the right move, with the Astros being 2-11 as a home underdog of +125 to +150.
