Houston @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2011 ) Chi. Cubs 3, Houston 4

THE STORY: The only drama left in the Houston Astros’ season is when they will clinch their first 100-loss season. With the way the Astros have struggled in day games this season, a three-game set with the Chicago Cubs could make that happen this weekend. The Cubs have clinched a losing campaign already as well, but they no longer have to worry about Houston catching them for fifth place in the National League Central. The Cubs will be looking to put the Astros out of their misery when they open a three-game stretch of day games Friday behind Matt Garza.

TV: 2:20 p.m. ET, CSN (Chicago), my20 (Houston)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Matt Garza (8-10, 3.54 ERA) vs. Astros LH Wandy Rodriguez (11-10, 3.51).

Garza has been sharp of late, allowing three earned runs or less in each of his last eight turns. The 27-year-old righthander did not factor in the decision Sunday at New York despite going seven innings and yielding three runs. Garza has only made one start against Houston this season, allowing two runs in seven innings while striking out nine in a no-decision July 24. Rodriguez is one of the few big-money veterans left after the Astros’ midsummer payroll purge. The 32-year-old lefthander has put together three straight quality starts, including a win at Washington on Sept. 10 in which he struck out seven in six innings while yielding three runs. He lost to the Cubs on July 23 despite allowing only two runs on three hits. Rodriguez owns a 5-6 record with a 3.95 ERA in 18 career turns against the division rivals.

ABOUT THE CUBS (65-85): Chicago still has some fight left as evidenced by its comeback to force extra innings Thursday at Cincinnati. Of course, the Cubs still lost on Jay Bruce’s walk-off homer in the 11th. Things like that have been happening all season to Chicago, which grabbed a lead early and watched starter Randy Wells let it slip away. When the Cubs came back with two runs in the ninth, James Russell was the one to let it go again in the 11th. Carlos Pena continues to swing a hot bat with his 28th homer Thursday, and has at least one extra-base hit in six of his last seven games. Chicago is within a few games of the free-falling Pittsburgh Pirates in the standings, leaving fourth place a possibility.

ABOUT THE ASTROS (51-98): Houston deserves some credit for finally recognizing that it was time for a full-scale rebuilding effort. The team has played at nearly a .500 clip (13-14) over the last month, though some of the youngsters appear to be hitting a wall. Rookie second baseman Jose Altuve has seen his average fall from .327 to .278 over the last 20 games while going 16-for-77. First baseman Brett Wallace is hitless in his last 25 at-bats. Jimmy Paredes has pulled himself out of a slump with multi-hit efforts in three of the last six games. The team has had trouble all year in the sunlight, however, posting a major league-worst 12-33 record during day games.

FINAL PITCH: The Cubs will send two prospects to the 2011 World Cup and Pan Am Games as members of Team USA. Triple A center fielder Brett Jackson, Chicago’s top pick in the 2009 draft, batted .274 with 20 homers between the top two levels of the minors this season while lefthander Jeff Beliveau, an 18th-round pick in 2008, went 6-2 with a 1.57 ERA in 53 relief appearances across two levels.