Houston Astros (37-55) at Chicago Cubs (42-51)

MLB Baseball: Tuesday July 20, 2010 8:05 PM EST

SP: CHC: R. Dempster (8-7, 3.57) HOU: W. Wright (0-0, 5.59)

Live Odds and Statistical Match Up

The Chicago Cubs and the Houston Astros meet for game two of their series at Wrigley Field.

After looking very good all weekend, the Chicago Cubs gave it all back and then some on Monday as they allowed five runs to the Astros in the first inning sand were never int the game. Carlos Silva lasted just an inning in which he allowed seven hits and five earned runs in the top of the first to take his fourth loss of the season and Mitch Atkins, Justin Berg, and Bob Howry all worked from the pen, all three of then gave up an earned run. Tyler Colvin and Aramis Ramirez both homered and Derrek Lee had three hits and Ramirez and Geovanny Soto all had to hits two pace the Chicago offense. The loss puts the Cubs back in fourth place in the division, 10 and a half games behind the Cardinals. For game two of this series the Cubs start Ryan Dempster who is 3-1 in his last four decisions. For the season Dempster has allowed 109 hits and 51 earned runs while striking out 129 in 128 and two-thirds innings of work.

The Houston Astros have played the Cubs well this season and Monday's game is just another to add to the list. Wandy Rodriguez allowed eight hits and five earned runs in six innings of work to get his seventh win of the year and the bullpen allowed just tw hits and no runs the rest of the way. Chris Johnson hit his first home run and Jason Castro hit his second as Johnson had three hits on the night as did Castro and Angel Sanchez. The win kept the Astros 14 games back in the National League Central and it was their sixth win in the last 10 games. On Tuesday the Astros hope to follow it up with another win as they send Wesley Wright to the mound. Wright has been in the Minors for the past month but with the Astros he has allowed 12 hits and six earned runs in while striking out seven in nine and two-thirds innings of work.

Chicago is 5-1 in their last six following a loss, 2-5 in their last seven games as a home favorite, 1-5 in their last six games against a left-handed starter, and 3-7 in Dempster's last 10 starts as a favorite. Houston is 6-2 in their last eight games against a team with a losing record, 22-54 in their last 76 as a road underdog, 7-25 in their last 32 road games against a team with a losing record, and 11-26 in game two of a series. Chicago is 0-4 in Dempster's last four starts against Houston.

Dempster has been a hard luck pitcher this year as he has pitched well and not gotten the wins he may have gotten if a few more bounces off of Cubs bats went his way. With that being said, the odds stink here and make this game virtually unplayable straight up taking the favorite so the choices are to lay a run and a half or take the dog, neither of which sounds thrilling. I'll lay the run and a half but it's going to be very small.

Mitch's Pick: Chicago Cubs - 1 1/2

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