Houston @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 14, 2012 ) Houston 10, Chi. Cubs 1
Something about Chicago seems to bring out the best in the Houston Astros' bats. Houston smacked 14 hits in Tuesday's 10-1 win at Wrigley Field, marking the first time the Astros scored double-digit runs since June 10 against the White Sox on the South Side. Houston's Bud Norris hopes to get more of the offensive output the Astros mustered Tuesday night as he looks to snap a streak of eight straight losses by facing the team he last beat.
The teams, which hold two of the three worst records in the majors, have split the first two games of the three-game series, and they've split eight meetings this season. Tuesday's win was the Astros' first in five tries at Wrigley Field this season, as they improved their major league-worst road record to 12-47. The Cubs have lost 12 of 14 and have been shut out four times during that stretch.
TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, WGN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Bud Norris (5-9, 4.93 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Justin Germano (1-2, 4.26)
Norris doesn't have a win since May 21, when he tossed seven scoreless innings against the Cubs to improve to 5-1. Since then, he is 0-8 with a 6.51 ERA and the Astros have lost 11 of his 12 starts. He has turned things around recently, though, posting quality starts in three of his last four outings. Norris is 3-3 with a 2.52 ERA in seven games (six starts) against the Cubs, including a 1-1 mark this season.
Germano will make his fourth start and fifth appearance for the Cubs since being acquired from Boston last month. The journeyman right-hander hasn't lasted six innings in any of his starts this season. He was hurt by his defense his last time out, allowing six runs (four earned) over 5 2/3 innings in a loss to Cincinnati. Germano is 0-2 with a 12.54 ERA in two starts against the Astros, which came in 2007 and 2008.
WALK-OFFS
1. Houston INF Tyler Greene is 7-for-19 (.368) in five games since being acquired from St. Louis. He hit .218 in 77 games for the Cardinals.
2. Cubs OF Alfonso Soriano is 5-for-13 (.385) with two homers against Norris.
3. The Astros have hit three or more home runs in nine games this season - two of them have come against the Cubs.