The Cubs are going for the sweep, and for their third straight win against a lefty starter, which is saying something.
Alfonso Soriano gets the day off, which strikes me as odd, given that the Cubs face a lefty. Why not rest him against a righty? I am assuming the knee must have really been bothering him (because a trade, right now, is not a reasonable assumption (though always possible)).
Game Info
Houston Astros (32-46) at Chicago Cubs (28-49), 1:20pm CT on CSN.
Game Thread and Series Preview
The Game Thread lives here. You should participate in the madness. And, of course, for those who aren’t into message board-style game threads, please feel free to use the comments on this post for your in-game commentary/outbursts.
The Series Preview for this series lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Wandy Rodriguez (6-5, 3.52 ERA, 1.261 WHIP)
versus
Travis Wood (2-3, 3.54 ERA, 1.200 WHIP)
Houston Astros Lineup
1. Jose Altuve, 2B
2. Jed Lowrie, SS
3. Carlos Lee, 1B (but he could be gone to the Dodgers by game time)
4. J.D. Martinez, LF
5. Chris Johnson, 3B
6. Brian Bogusevic, CF
7. Matt Downs, RF
8. Jason Castro, C
9. Wandy Rodriguez, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. Reed Johnson, CF
2. Starlin Castro, SS
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Jeff Baker, RF
5. Geovany Soto, C
6. Joe Mather, LF
7. Darwin Barney, 2B
8. Luis Valbuena, 3B
9. Travis Wood, P