Houston @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 29, 2012 ) Houston 0, Chi. Cubs 4

Houston came into Friday’s series opener as the last remaining team in baseball with fewer than 10 road wins, and the Cubs — owners of the worst record in baseball — kept the Astros from reaching the mark by riding 8 1/3 shutout innings from Paul Maholm to a 4-0 triumph. Chicago crept to within 4 1/2 games of Houston at the bottom of the National League Central. The home team has won all four games between the two teams this season.

The Cubs have had problems across the board this season, ranking near the bottom of the NL in most pitching and hitting categories. The young Astros have had pitching struggles of their own, but the offense has improved thanks in part to the middle infield combination of 2B Jose Altuve and SS Jed Lowrie. Houston is just 9-26 on the road, with only Chicago (10-29) faring worse in away games.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports (Houston), WGN (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH J.A. Happ (6-7, 4.83 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Matt Garza (3-6, 4.06 ERA)

Happ bounced back from a four-start losing streak with back-to-back wins, giving up three runs over 13 innings in victories over Kansas City and Cleveland. The left-hander is still winless on the road, though, going 0-3 with a 7.36 ERA in five away starts. Happ is 1-1 in three career starts against the Cubs, with the win coming on May 22 in Houston (6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K).

Chicago has lost eight of Garza’s last nine starts, and while he hasn’t gotten great run support, he hasn’t been particularly sharp — in his las seven outings, he has allowed 28 runs (25 earned) in 39 innings. Included in that stretch was a rough loss at Houston on May 21 (3 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 2 BB). Garza is 0-3 with a 4.64 ERA in his four lifetime starts against the Astros.

WALK-OFFS

1. Both teams have struggled against divisional opponents — the Cubs have lost nine of 11 against National League Central teams, while Houston has lost 17 of Happ’s last 23 starts within the division.

2. Houston hitters are a combined 12-for-62 (.194) against Garza. Carlos Lee is one of the few success stories, going 5-for-15 with two home runs, two doubles, six runs batted in and a walk.

3. The Cubs are a combined 11-for-35 (.314) with seven walks against Happ, with Jeff Baker (4-for-8) leading the way.