Chicago @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 15, 2011 ) Chi. Cubs 4, Houston 3

THE STORY: Though still far removed from playoff contention, the Chicago Cubs go in search of their 13th win in 16 games on Tuesday night when they play the second of three games at National League Central rival Houston. The Cubs held on for a 4-3 victory in the series opener behind two-run doubles from Carlos Peña and Geovany Soto. The last-place Astros, meanwhile, have lost seven consecutive games.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), Fox Sports, DISH 447 & 9517, DirecTV 678 (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Ryan Dempster (10-8, 4.70) vs. Astros RH Brett Myers (3-12, 4.71)

After a disastrous start to the season, Dempster has settled down nicely over the last few weeks, winning his last three starts and five of his last seven. He has turned in four straight quality starts, including an August 11 win over Washington that saw Dempster allow just one run and three hits in seven innings. He wasn't particularly sharp in an April 11 win at Houston (6 1/3 IP, 4 ER), but the victory itself was a step forward for Dempster, who is 6-11 with a 4.41 ERA in his career against the Astros.

Myers is still searching for his first victory since June 17, having gone 0-6 over his last 10 starts while allowing 37 runs in 64 innings. Despite his struggles against everyone else, however, Myers is 2-0 this season against the Cubs, yielding just two runs in 13 innings of work. He has been equally solid against Chicago his entire career, posting a 12-3 record and a 2.12 ERA in 19 games (15 starts). Cubs LF Alfonso Soriano is just 6-for-33 (.182) with 14 strikeouts against Myers.

ABOUT THE CUBS (54-68): Chicago has had trouble preventing runs all season, leading the major leagues with 103 errors and ranking at or near the bottom of the National League in every major pitching category. The Cubs' offense, though, has been clicking during the current hot streak, producing 83 runs and hitting 24 home runs over the last 15 games. 1B Carlos Peña has driven in seven runs over the past three contests, while 3B Aramis Ramirez is 11 for his last 22 (.500) with back-to-back three-hit games.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (38-84): Houston was 23-34 and just 9 1/2 games out of first place in the NL Central through June 2, but the Astros have been steadily fading since, winning just 15 of their last 65 games. The team sold off many of its top players in late July, but some of the young fill-ins have actually shown some promise: 2B Jose Altuve is batting .320 in 25 games, while CF Jason Bourgeois is hitting .302 with 22 stolen bases. 1B/OF Carlos Lee (.261, 11 HR, 68 RBIs) is the lone remaining player on the roster with more than eight home runs.

FINAL PITCH: The Astros and Cubs have drawn fewer walks than any other teams in baseball, ranking at the bottom of the major leagues with 296 and 288, respectively.