Houston Astros (21-31) at Chicago Cubs (29-22) | Wrigley Field | 1:20 PM CT / 2:20 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs (29–22 after losing 4–2 last night) host the Houston Astros (21–31, ten games under .500!) at Wrigley Field for Game 2. We’re on a SIX-GAME LOSING STREAK after Spencer Arrighetti dominated (5 scoreless IP!) and we went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position! We’ve lost 10 of our last 12 games after starting with a 15-game home win streak!
This is Game 2—can we END the six-game losing streak at home?
Last Night: Arrighetti Dominates, Cubs Go 0-for-9 with RISP
Last night was BRUTAL. Spencer Arrighetti threw 5 scoreless innings and we went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position! We loaded the bases TWICE (once with NO OUTS!) and couldn’t score! Christian Vazquez homered for Houston and we lost 4-2 to extend our losing streak to SIX GAMES!
What Went Wrong:
- Lost 4–2 (SIX-GAME LOSING STREAK!)
- 0-for-9 with RISP (BRUTAL!)
- Loaded bases with NO OUTS in 3rd (didn’t score!)
- Loaded bases with TWO OUTS in 8th (didn’t score!)
- Spencer Arrighetti: 5 scoreless IP (dominated!)
- Jameson Taillon: 4 R in 4.2 IP (2-4 record)
- Only 4 hits all game
We’re on a SIX-GAME LOSING STREAK and have lost 10 of our last 12!
Cubs Season: 29-22, SIX-Game Losing Streak
Record: 29-22 (Seven Games Over .500, SIX-Game Losing Streak)
We’re 29–22 and seven games over .500 but we’re on a SIX-GAME LOSING STREAK after last night’s brutal 4–2 loss! We’ve lost 10 of our last 12 games after starting with a 15-game home win streak at Wrigley! We’re in SECOND PLACE (1 game behind Milwaukee) and SPIRALING!
Key Stats:
- 52 home runs (6th in MLB)
- .248 batting average
- 29-22 record (SECOND PLACE, 1 game back)
- 18-9 at Wrigley (but losing streak!)
Offensive Collapse:
- 0-for-9 with RISP last night
- Only 4 hits vs Arrighetti
- Loaded bases TWICE, scored ZERO runs
- Lost 10 of last 12 games
We MUST bounce back today or this losing streak gets OUT OF CONTROL!
Houston Astros: 21-31, Won Last Night!
Record: 21-31 (Ten Games Under .500, Won Yesterday!)
The Astros are 21–31 and ten games under .500 after FINALLY winning last night 4–2! They had scored only 6 runs in their previous 4 games (lost 3 of 4) but Spencer Arrighetti (6-1, 1.50 ERA!) dominated us!
Astros After Last Night:
- Won 4–2 (snapped their skid!)
- Spencer Arrighetti: 5 scoreless IP (6-1, 1.50 ERA!)
- Christian Vazquez: Homer (3rd of season)
- Finally got some offense!
Astros Key Players:
- Spencer Arrighetti: 6-1, 1.50 ERA (All-Star caliber!)
- Worst team ERA in baseball (5.34!)
- Bullpen has 5.72 ERA (tire fire!)
- But they beat us last night!
What We’re Facing:
- Astros are 21-31 (struggling badly!)
- But they have Arrighetti (1.50 ERA!)
- Rest of pitching staff is AWFUL (5.34 team ERA!)
- Playing at Wrigley Field
The Astros are BAD but they beat us last night! We MUST bounce back today!
Key Matchups at Wrigley Field
Cubs Pitching vs Astros (21-31)
The Astros are 21-31 and ten games under .500. Keep them down at Wrigley!
Cubs Offense (0-for-9 with RISP!) vs Astros Bullpen (5.72 ERA!)
We were 0-for-9 with RISP last night. The Astros bullpen has a 5.72 ERA (WORST in baseball!). ATTACK THEM and get timely hits!
END THE SIX-GAME LOSING STREAK
Lost six straight (2 to Rangers, 1 to Braves, 3 to Brewers, 1 to Astros!). Fresh start in Game 2!
Stay in the NL Central Race
29-22, SECOND PLACE, 1 game back. Win today and stay in the race!
What the Cubs Need at Wrigley Field
Pitching Keeps Astros Down
The Astros are 21-31 and have the WORST ERA in baseball (5.34!). Give us 6 solid innings!
OFFENSE WAKES UP WITH RISP
0-for-9 with RISP last night! Loaded bases TWICE! TIME TO GET TIMELY HITS!
Attack the Astros Bullpen (5.72 ERA!)
The Astros bullpen has a 5.72 ERA (WORST in baseball!). Jump on them and score runs!
END THE SIX-GAME LOSING STREAK
Lost six straight. MUST win today or this gets out of control!
Cubs Fan Prediction: We End the Losing Streak!
Final Score: Cubs 7, Astros 4
Our pitching battles—6 innings, 4 runs. The Astros are 21-31 but we keep them down.
Our offense FINALLY breaks through! Ian Happ drives in runs. Seiya Suzuki contributes. We ATTACK the Astros bullpen (5.72 ERA!) and score 7!
The Astros score 4 but we END THE SIX-GAME LOSING STREAK and get back in the win column!
Three-run win. We’re 30–22, EIGHT GAMES OVER .500. We end the losing streak at Wrigley!
Why Game 2 Matters
We’re 29–22 in SECOND PLACE (1 game back!) after going 0-for-9 with RISP last night (loaded bases TWICE, scored ZERO!). We’re on a SIX-GAME LOSING STREAK and have lost 10 of our last 12! The Astros are 21–31 with the WORST ERA in baseball (5.34!) and a TERRIBLE bullpen (5.72 ERA!)!
Win today and we’re 30–22. END THE SIX-GAME LOSING STREAK against the struggling Astros!
Can our offense get timely hits? Will we attack the Astros’ terrible bullpen? Can we end the losing streak?
We went 78–84 last year. Going 30–22 and bouncing back from SIX STRAIGHT losses would show RESILIENCE!
Go Cubs Go. End the losing streak at Wrigley TODAY!