Houston Astros vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction for Saturday May 23 2026
Use Code WWWC The Houston Astros visit the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday at 2:20 PM ET on ESPN Unlimited and MLB.TV. Houston is 20-31 and fifth in the AL West, while Chicago is 29-21 and second in the NL Central. The Astros lost 4-1 to Minnesota in their most recent game, while the Cubs enter this matchup on a five-game losing streak after being swept by Milwaukee. This game is the second contest of the weekend series between the teams. Build your bankroll with our free MLB picks.
Astros Trying to Overcome Pitching Problems
Houston enters this matchup after dropping four of its last five games overall. The Astros have struggled badly on the road with an 8-17 away record and continue to battle inconsistency on the mound. Houston has allowed at least four runs in four of the last five games entering Saturday afternoon.
The Astros are hitting .246 with a .321 on-base percentage and .404 slugging percentage, producing 218 runs on 422 hits. Yordan Alvarez has carried the offense with a .303 batting average, 15 home runs, 31 RBI, and a 1.017 OPS. Christian Walker has added 11 home runs and 31 RBI, while Jose Altuve owns 40 hits and 27 runs scored. Carlos Correa is batting .279 with a .369 OBP, and Isaac Paredes has contributed 20 RBI. Houston has totaled 60 home runs through 51 games and continues to generate solid power numbers despite recent losses.
Pitching has been the biggest issue for Houston this season. The Astros carry a 5.34 ERA and 1.53 WHIP while allowing opponents to bat .255 against the staff. Houston has issued 249 walks through 51 games, one of the highest totals in baseball, although the team has also recorded 431 strikeouts. The bullpen has struggled consistently during the recent losing stretch.
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Injuries: Yainer Diaz, 10-Day IL, Walker Janek, 7-Day IL, Taylor Trammell, 10-Day IL, Josh Hader, 60-Day IL, Joey Loperfido, 10-Day IL
Cubs Looking to Snap Five-Game Losing Streak
Chicago enters this matchup after losing five straight games, including being swept by Milwaukee earlier in the week. The Cubs have allowed 36 runs during the losing streak and continue searching for more consistency from the pitching staff. Despite the recent slide, Chicago remains strong at home with an 18-8 record at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs are hitting .242 with a .338 on-base percentage and .397 slugging percentage, producing 246 runs on 410 hits. Nico Hoerner leads the club with 52 hits and 30 RBI, while Ian Happ has contributed 10 home runs and 20 RBI. Seiya Suzuki is batting .269 with a .369 OBP and seven home runs, while Michael Busch has added 27 RBI and a .360 OBP. Chicago has totaled 58 home runs and continues drawing walks at a high rate with 228 free passes this season.
Chicago’s pitching staff has performed better overall than Houston’s despite recent struggles. The Cubs enter with a 4.07 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while holding opponents to a .236 batting average. Chicago has recorded 402 strikeouts through 50 games and generally limited hard contact better than Houston thus far this season.
Injuries: Jaxon Wiggins, 7-Day IL, Edward Cabrera, Day-To-Day, Jeff Brigham, 60-Day IL, Matt Shaw, 10-Day IL, Matthew Boyd, 15-Day IL
Pitching Matchup
Houston Astros – Kai-Wei Teng
Teng is 2-3 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.10 WHIP across 31.0 innings. The right-hander has allowed 22 hits with 30 strikeouts and only three home runs surrendered this season.
Chicago Cubs – Colin Rea
Rea is 4-2 with a 4.98 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over 47.0 innings. The right-hander has allowed 53 hits with 40 strikeouts and 14 walks through 10 appearances.
Houston Astros vs Chicago Cubs Spread Pick
The Astros have value because Teng has been Houston’s most reliable starter recently, and the Cubs continue struggling badly on the mound during the current losing streak. Chicago has allowed at least five runs in each of the last five losses, while Houston still brings significant power through Alvarez and Walker. Houston is capable of keeping the game close and winning it late.
Houston Astros vs Chicago Cubs Over/Under Pick
This game will cash over as both pitching staffs continue allowing too many baserunners. Houston owns a 5.34 ERA and 1.53 WHIP, while Chicago has allowed 36 runs during the five-game losing streak. Both lineups feature multiple power hitters, and Wrigley Field can quickly become favorable for offense during day games.
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