Astros Face Cubs in Game 2 of Series at Wrigley Field

The Houston Astros take on the Chicago Cubs this afternoon for the second game of their three-game series at Wrigley Field. On the mound for the Astros is right-hander Kai-Wei Teng, who holds a 2-3 record, while the Cubs counter with righty Colin Rea, boasting a 4-2 mark.

This matchup is part of a stretch of four consecutive day games for the Astros, a rarity for the team. After starting the series with a day game in Minnesota on Wednesday, the Astros will play at 1:20 p.m. in Chicago today and tomorrow. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this is the first time since April 2-6 of last season that Houston has played four straight day games.

Today’s game marks the fourth contest of a ten-game road trip for the Astros, who currently sit at 2-2 on this journey. After a 1-2 showing in Minnesota, Houston looks to build momentum against the Cubs before returning to Texas for a four-game series against the Rangers starting Monday.

In their last meeting, the Astros won two of three games against the Cubs last season, with their last visit to Wrigley Field resulting in a sweep by Chicago in April 2024. Historically, the Astros have fared well against the Cubs, holding an all-time record of 386-338 against them, making Chicago one of the teams against which Houston has the most wins. Interestingly, the first game in Houston’s franchise history was also against the Cubs on April 10, 1962, where they triumphed 11-2.

This series is notable as it marks just the Astros’ second trip to Wrigley Field since 2013, following their transition from the National League to the American League.

On the mound, Kai-Wei Teng has been effective in both starting and relief roles this season, boasting a solid 2.61 ERA over 31 innings pitched in 16 appearances, including three starts. His last outing was particularly impressive, as he threw 5.0 scoreless innings against the Rangers on May 16, contributing to a 4-1 Astros victory. Acquired from the Giants in January, Teng is only the second Taiwanese-born player in Astros history, joining Chia-Jen Lo.

In Friday’s series opener, the Astros secured a 4-2 victory, with right-hander Spencer Arrighetti leading the charge with 5.0 scoreless innings. Catcher Christian Vázquez stood out offensively, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. The win was significant for the Astros, marking their first victory at Wrigley Field since June 22, 2013.

Arrighetti has been a revelation since his season debut on April 15, improving his record to 6-1 with a remarkable 1.32 ERA over seven starts. He has consistently kept opponents at bay, allowing just a .169 batting average against him. His performance has made him one of the top starters in the league, with six wins since mid-April being the most in the American League.

The Astros are currently 4-3 in their last seven games, maintaining a competitive edge in two-run games at 9-8 this season. Their pitching staff has been strong, with starters combining for a 2.43 ERA across the series. Defensively, Houston has also been sharp, with only 19 team errors this season, tied for the second-fewest in the American League.

In the bullpen, Alimber Santa has made a strong impression since being called up from Triple-A Sugar Land, showcasing a 1.42 ERA in 18 appearances. Meanwhile, Yordan Alvarez continues to be a key player for the Astros, batting .303 with 15 home runs and an OPS over 1.000, contributing significantly to the team’s success on the road.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.