The Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros will kick off a three-game series on Monday. First pitch from Minute Maid Park is at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Astros are -185 moneyline favorites and the game total is 8.
Chicago (19-21 SU and 22-18 RL) will start right-hander Jameson Taillon tomorrow evening. The 31-year-old is 0-2 with a 6.41 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in five outings.
Houston (21-19 SU and 19-20-1 RL) will counter with left-hander Framber Valdez. The 29-year-old is 3-4 with a 2.38 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in eight starts this year.
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Chicago is in the midst of a nine-game road trip to Minneapolis, Houston, and Philadelphia. The Cubs are three games out of first place in the NL Central after roughly 40 games.
Chicago scores 4.83 runs per game (9th) and hits .266 (4th) with a .766 OPS (7th). It's hit 48 long balls (12th) and stolen 35 bases (6th) in 2023. The Cubs' pitching staff has compiled a 3.91 ERA (11th) and a 1.20 WHIP (5th) with a league-leading 20 quality wins.
.@mmervis12 drives in the tying run in the 7th! pic.twitter.com/cQx5ZbbMh3
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 13, 2023
Taillon takes the mound for the visitors in game one. He's pitched a combined 5.2 innings in his last two starts against Washington and St. Louis, giving up seven runs on eight hits, including three home runs. The right-hander has been on a pitch count since returning to the Cubs from a stint on the IL with a groin strain. Taillon has a 25:6 K:BB ratio this season.