Chicago Cubs (19-21) vs. Houston Astros (21-19)
May 16, 2023 8:10 pm EDT
The Line: Houston Astros -156 / Chicago Cubs +125; Over/Under: +8
(Get latest betting odds)
The Chicago Cubs and the Houston Astros meet Tuesday in MLB action from Minute Maid Park. This will be the second installment in a three-game series. In the Monday opener, the Astros won by two runs. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs played the Twins over the weekend, winning Friday before a pair of losses to finish out the series. On Monday versus Houston, Chicago tied the game up at 4-4 but couldn’t score after that in a 6-4 loss. Jameson Taillon put up 4.2 innings with four earned, seven hits and a walk in the starting role.
Justin Steele will make the start for the Cubs on Tuesday. This year over eight starts Steele is 6-0 with a 1.82 ERA and 39 Ks in 49.1 innings. Steele is 14-11 with a 3.16 ERA in 52 career games (41 starts).
Houston Astros
Over on the Houston side, they played the White Sox over the weekend and won two of three games. On Monday the Astros out-hit the Cubs 11-8 in the win. Starter Framber Valdez lasted 4.0 innings with four earned on seven hits and two walks.
It’ll be Cristian Javier in the start on Tuesday for Houston. Over his eight starts this year Javier is 3-1 with a 3.47 ERA and 54 Ks in 46.2 innings. Javier is 23-13 with a 3.10 ERA in 86 games over his career (52 starts).
The Cubs are 8-3 in their last 11 Tuesday games and 37-16 in their last 53 versus the AL West. Chicago is 1-5 in their last six in game two of a series.
Meanwhile, the Astros are 1-4 in their last five in game two of a series and 44-16 in their last 60 versus a lefty starter. Houston is 38-16 in their last 54 Tuesday games.
ANDREW’S FREE PICK
I’ll take a stab on the Cubs here. Steele is having a great year overall, and he’s rolling right along lately. Over his last three starts combined, Steele is 2-0 with six earned on 20 hits and four walks in 19.0 innings of work. He should put Chicago in a good position in game two. On Monday the Cubs didn’t play too terribly outside of rough appearances from Taillon and Michael Fulmer. If the offense can post another decent effort I think Chicago will be in solid shape for game two.
