Houston Astros vs Chicago Cubs Picks and Prediction for Sunday May 24 2026
Use Code WWWC Sunday afternoon on the MLB diamond, and we have a Houston Astros vs Chicago Cubs prediction locked and loaded for you. This is game three of a three-game series. The Astros have taken the first two games of this series and are now 3-2 on this current road trip. They have gone 22-31 on the year. The Cubs have now lost their last seven games in a row to fall to 29-23 on the year. Can the Cubs end their slide? Read on to see my Astros vs Cubs prediction.
Pitching Probables: Peter Lambert will get the nod for the Astros, and he has gone 2-4 with a 3.57 ERA on the year. He will be opposed by Shota Imanaga, who has gone 4-4 with a 3.38 ERA in 10 starts this year.
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Astros Go For The Sweep
Houston goes for the sweep after taking the first two games at Wrigley, including yesterday’s 3–0 win where their pitching finally stole the spotlight. The Astros are now 3–2 on this road trip and 22–31 overall, trying to claw their way back toward .500 despite an offense that has gone ice‑cold. They’ve averaged just 2.6 runs per game over their last ten, and even with solid season numbers — 4.25 runs per game, a .246 average, and a .723 OPS — the recent slump has made every run feel like a grind. The pitching staff has been the opposite story: a league‑worst 5.18 ERA and 1.50 WHIP, though the strikeout rate remains strong and the defense has been cleaner than expected with only 19 errors.
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Peter Lambert gets the ball, and he’s been one of the few bright spots in the rotation. His 3.57 ERA is backed by excellent command and a 1.075 WHIP, and he’s been even better on the road with a 1.74 ERA in two starts away from home. For Houston to finish the sweep, they need Lambert to set the tone early and buy time for an offense that hasn’t been producing. Limiting walks, avoiding the big inning, and finding a couple of timely swings are the formula right now. If the Astros can scratch out three or four runs and let Lambert work deep enough to bridge to the bullpen, they’ll have a real chance to close out the series on a high note.
Cubs Have Lost Seven In A Row
Chicago tries to stop the bleeding after a 3–0 loss to Houston, a game where the offense never threatened and the losing streak stretched to seven straight. The Cubs have scored just seven total runs over their last five games, and that slump has overshadowed what’s been a solid overall offensive profile this season: 4.77 runs per game, a .238 average, a .725 OPS, and 59 homers. The pitching has held up reasonably well with a 4.05 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and 17 quality starts, but the lack of run support has put constant pressure on the staff. At home, they’ve usually been more comfortable, but right now they simply need someone to spark the lineup.
Shota Imanaga gets the ball, and he remains one of the most reliable arms on the roster. He enters at 4–4 with a 3.38 ERA and an excellent 1.040 WHIP, and he’s been steady at Wrigley with a 3.57 ERA in six home starts. His ability to limit traffic and miss bats gives Chicago a real chance to reset the tone early. For the Cubs to avoid the sweep, they need Imanaga to work deep, the defense to stay clean, and the offense to finally break out of its funk with a couple of timely swings. If they can get even modest production at the plate, their pitching gives them a path to snapping the skid.
Houston Astros vs Chicago Cubs Pick
Astros vs Cubs Moneyline Pick
- Chicago -160 (4 Units)
I can see the case for Chicago here because losing streaks usually end when you finally get your best arm on the mound, and Shota Imanaga gives them that chance. Even with the team scuffling, he’s been steady all year with a 3.38 ERA, elite WHIP, and strong strikeout numbers, and he’s been just as reliable at Wrigley. Houston’s offense has been stuck in neutral for weeks, averaging only 2.6 runs per game over their last ten, so this is the kind of matchup where Imanaga can control the pace and keep things tight. The Cubs don’t need an explosion at the plate — just a couple of timely hits to finally break through — and with the Astros’ pitching staff carrying a 5.18 ERA on the season, this is as good a spot as any for Chicago to stop the slide.
Astros vs Cubs Over/Under Pick
- Under 7.5 (5 Units)
The Under 7.5 lines up cleanly because neither offense is giving you any reason to expect a breakout, and both starters fit the profile of a low‑scoring game. Houston has averaged just 2.6 runs per game over their last ten, and Chicago has managed only seven total runs across their last five, so both lineups are coming in ice‑cold. Peter Lambert has been dominant on the road with a 1.74 ERA and excellent command, and Shota Imanaga has been just as steady at Wrigley with a 3.57 home ERA and elite WHIP. With two pitchers who limit traffic, two offenses stuck in neutral, and a park that can play big when the wind isn’t carrying, this projects as another tight, low‑event matchup where a handful of runs may decide it.
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