The Chicago Cubs hope to stop their five-game losing run versus the Houston Astros, on Friday at 2:20 p.m. ET. Jameson Taillon (2-3, 4.97 ERA) gets the start for the Cubs, who are 29-21 this season and second in the NL Central. Spencer Arrighetti (5-1, 1.50 ERA) is the expected starter for the Astros, who are 20-31 and fourth in the AL West.
How to watch Houston Astros vs. Chicago CubsAstros vs. Cubs odds
Injury reportsCubs
Matthew Boyd: 15 Day IL (Knee), Riley Martin: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Porter Hodge: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Justin Steele: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Shelby Miller: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Hunter Harvey: 60 Day IL (Tricep), Cade Horton: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Christopher Austin: 60 Day IL (Knee), Edward Cabrera: day-to-day (Finger)
Astros
Joey Loperfido: 10 Day IL (Quadricep), Carlos Correa: 10 Day IL (Ankle), Taylor Trammell: 10 Day IL (Groin), Jose Altuve: 10 Day IL (Side), Yainer Diaz: 10 Day IL (Abdominal), Bennett Sousa: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Lance McCullers: 15 Day IL (Shoulder), Hayden Wesneski: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Hunter Brown: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Ronel Blanco: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Brandon Walter: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Cristian Javier: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Josh Hader: 60 Day IL (Biceps)
Stats to know
Chicago’s Nico Hoerner has hit four home runs this season. He has also tallied 30 RBIs and has scored 23 runs. In 227 plate appearances, he has recorded a .264 BA, .348 OBP and .391 SLG with a 10.1% walk rate and a 7.5% strikeout rate. He has been effective on the base paths, recording nine steals on 10 attempts.
In 191 plate appearances, Dansby Swanson has hit seven long balls, tallied 27 RBIs and scored 30 runs. He is batting .191/.295/.358 and has posted a 22% strikeout rate and a 12.6% walk rate. Swanson has recorded three steals on three attempts.
Yordan Alvarez is hitting for a .303 BA, .412 OBP and .605 SLG with a 16.3% strikeout rate and a 14% walk rate. His OPS is 1.017, which ranks 2nd in MLB, and he has scored 30 runs. In 221 plate appearances, he has hit 15 home runs (5th in MLB) and driven in 31 runs.
In 206 plate appearances, Christian Walker has hit 11 long balls (20th in MLB), tallied 31 RBIs and scored 27 runs. He is batting .255/.330/.489 and has posted a 19.4% strikeout rate and an 8.7% walk rate.
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