- Houston Astros (20-31) at Chicago Cubs (29-21) | Wrigley Field | 1:20 PM CT / 2:20 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs (29โ21 after getting SWEPT 5โ0 Wednesday) host the Houston Astros (20โ31, struggling badly) at Wrigley Field for the series opener. Weโre on a FIVE-GAME LOSING STREAK after the Brewers DOMINATED us (swept 3-0, outscored us 19-5!). Weโre in SECOND PLACE (1 game back). Cabrera has a blister. We face Spencer Arrighetti (5-1, 1.50 ERA โ All-Star consideration!).
This is the series openerโcan we END the five-game losing streak and bounce back at home?
Last Night: SWEPT by Brewers 5-0, FIVE-Game Losing Streak
Last night was BRUTAL. Kyle Harrison struck out 11 and the Brewers shut us out 5-0 to COMPLETE THE SWEEP at Wrigley Field. Weโre on a FIVE-GAME LOSING STREAK, in SECOND PLACE for the first time since early May, and Edward Cabrera has a blister on his right middle finger!
What Went Wrong:
- Lost 5โ0 (SWEPT 3-0 by Brewers!)
- Kyle Harrison: 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 11 strikeouts (DOMINATED!)
- Edward Cabrera: Exited after 3 IP (BLISTER on right middle finger!)
- Pete Crow-Armstrong: Error led to 3 runs in 2nd
- Only 2 hits all game (BRUTAL offensive performance!)
- FIVE-GAME LOSING STREAK!
Weโre in SECOND PLACE (1 game back) and need to turn this around TODAY!
Cubs Season: 29-21, SECOND PLACE, FIVE-Game Losing Streak
Record: 29-21 (Eight Games Over .500, SECOND PLACE, FIVE-Game Losing Streak)
Weโre 29โ21 and eight games over .500 but weโre in SECOND PLACE (1 game behind Milwaukee!) on a FIVE-GAME LOSING STREAK! The Brewers SWEPT us at home (9-3, 5-2, 5-0) and outscored us 19-5 in the series! Weโve now lost 6 straight series (Rangers, Braves, White Sox, Brewers)!
Key Stats:
- 52 home runs (6th in MLB)
- .248 batting average
- 29-21 record (SECOND PLACE, 1 game back!)
- 18-8 at Wrigley (but just got SWEPT!)
Pitching Concerns:
- Edward Cabrera: BLISTER on right middle finger (3-2 record, status uncertain!)
- Need someone to step up today vs Astrosโ ace Arrighetti
Weโre eight games over .500 but in a TAILSPIN! Time to bounce back against the struggling Astros!
Houston Astros: 20-31, Six Games Out in AL West
Record: 20-31 (Eleven Games Under .500, Struggling This Season)
The Astros are 20โ31 and six games out of first place in the AL West. Theyโre having a TERRIBLE season but Spencer Arrighetti is quietly having an All-Star year!
Astros Season:
- 20-31 record (eleven games under .500!)
- 6 games out in AL West
- 7-16 on the road (TERRIBLE away record!)
- Lost to Twins 4-1 Wednesday (only 5 hits, struck out 15 times!)
Spencer Arrighetti Tonight:
- 5-1, 1.50 ERA (UNBELIEVABLE numbers!)
- 26 years old โ quietly moving into All-Star consideration!
- Elite stuff โ this is a TOUGH matchup for our cold bats!
What Weโre Facing:
- Astros are struggling (20-31) BUT
- Arrighetti has a 1.50 ERA (All-Star caliber!)
- Weโre on a FIVE-game losing streak
- Our offense has been TERRIBLE (only 2 hits last night!)
The Astros are bad BUT Arrighetti is ELITE! This is a tough matchup for our cold offense!
Key Matchups at Wrigley Field
Cubs Pitching (Cabrera Blister Issue!) vs Astros
Cabrera has a BLISTER (exited after 3 IP!). Who starts today? The Astros are 20-31 but we need to keep them down!
Cubs Cold Offense (2 hits last night!) vs Spencer Arrighetti (1.50 ERA!)
We have 2 hits last night. Arrighetti has a 1.50 ERA (All-Star caliber!). We MUST attack him early!
End the FIVE-Game Losing Streak
Lost five straight (2 to Rangers, 1 to Braves, 3 to Brewers โ SWEPT!). Fresh start vs Houston!
Stay in the NL Central Race
29-21, SECOND PLACE, 1 game back. Win today and stay in the race!
What the Cubs Need at Wrigley Field
Offense WAKES UP
Only 2 hits last night. Only 5 runs in THREE GAMES vs Brewers. TIME TO HIT! Attack Arrighettiโs 1.50 ERA!
Pitching Steps Up (Cabrera Blister!)
Cabrera has a blister. Someone needs to step up and keep the Astros down!
Pete Crow-Armstrong Bounces Back
Error led to 3 runs last night. Clean defense today at Wrigley!
END THE FIVE-GAME LOSING STREAK
Lost five straight. SWEPT at home by Brewers. Fresh start vs Houston! Get back in the win column!
Cubs Fan Prediction: We End the Losing Streak!
Final Score: Cubs 4, Astros 3
Our pitching battlesโ6 innings, 3 runs. The Astros are 20-31 but Arrighetti is tough (1.50 ERA!).
Our offense FINALLY breaks through! Ian Happ drives in runs. Seiya Suzuki contributes. We score 4 against the All-Star candidate!
The Astros score 3 but we END THE FIVE-GAME LOSING STREAK and get back in the win column!
One-run win. Weโre 30โ21, NINE GAMES OVER .500. We end the losing streak at home!
Why Today Matters
Weโre 29โ21 in SECOND PLACE (1 game back!) after getting SWEPT 5โ0 by the Brewers last night. Kyle Harrison struck out 11! Cabrera has a BLISTER! Weโre on a FIVE-GAME LOSING STREAK! The Astros are 20โ31 BUT Spencer Arrighetti has a 1.50 ERA (All-Star consideration!)!
Win today and weโre 30โ21. END THE FIVE-GAME LOSING STREAK and get back in the NL Central race!
Can our offense wake up? Who pitches with Cabreraโs blister? Can we beat Arrighettiโs 1.50 ERA?
We went 78โ84 last year. Going 30โ21 and bouncing back from being SWEPT would show RESILIENCE!
Go Cubs Go. End the losing streak and bounce back at Wrigley!
The post Cubs vs Astros Prediction Game Today May 22: Fresh Start After Getting SWEPT by Brewers appeared first on UrbanMatter.
