For the first time since 2019, fans are treated to a series between the Chicago Cubs (19-21) and Houston Astros (21-19). Both teams entered this series 4.0 games out of first place in their respective divisions. If they want to gain any ground this week, they must go through each other. Monday night's contest kicked off the three-game set, and this battle will take center stage on Tuesday night. Houston's Minute Maid Park is the venue, and round two is scheduled to start at 8:10 p.m. EDT.
Coughing up 27 runs in two games won't result in many wins. Luckily for Chicago, Justin Steele is on the mound to get them back on track. The Cubs are 6-2 in his starts this season, and Steele wasn't charged with either loss. He has a 1.82 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 1.034 WHIP, 6.8 H/9, 0.4 HR/9, and 2.6 BB/9 through eight starts. Those are the numbers of a pitcher eyeing their first All-Star selection. Steele's last start was his worst of the season, 6.0 innings of three-run ball, but most teams will take that every five days in a heartbeat. With a bullpen behind him that's struggled to strand runners, ranking 23rd in left-on-base percentage, Steele's ability to avoid jams is invaluable.
Chicago's offense isn't blameless from this weekend either, as in Saturday and Sunday's blowout losses, the lineup only scratched together four runs. Scoring hasn't been a major issue for most of the season, w ith the Cubs ninth in runs per game before Monday's affair. However, in May they're 22nd in that metric, averaging a full run less than their season average. There are a lot of things to love about the Cubs' lineup, such as top-10 marks in walk rate and stolen bases. Patrick Wisdom's 12 home runs (2nd in the league) pace a team that's eighth in slugging percentage. Still, the runs scored column will always be the most important. Maybe Nico Hoerner's absence is more important than most people thought.