Astros at Cubs
Anthony Rizzo wasn't going to let a lengthy rain delay get him down. After homering for the first time in over a month in the series opener, Rizzo will look to continue to pull himself out of a funk on Saturday when the Chicago Cubs host the Houston Astros in the middle contest of a three-game series. Rizzo, who belted his first homer since May 18, had a pair of hits after collecting only six in his previous 38 at-bats.
Darwin Barney and Scott Hairston also launched solo shots in the 3-1 triumph for the Cubs, who aren't getting much bang for their buck with the long ball. Ten of Chicago's last 15 homers have been of the solo variety. The Cubs won for just the third time in their last 10 games at Wrigley Field, while the American League-worst Astros suffered their third loss in nine outings.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CSN (Houston), WGN (Chicago)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Bud Norris (5-7, 3.64 ERA) vs. Cubs LH Travis Wood (5-6, 2.74)
Norris saw his losing skid extend to three games after yielding four runs on eight hits in six innings in a 4-2 setback to the Chicago White Sox on Monday. The 28-year-old has done well by keeping the ball in the yard, allowing just one homer in his last six outings. Norris has split eight career decisions versus the Cubs while posting a 3.14 ERA.
Like Norris, Wood also suffered his third straight loss despite permitting six earned runs and 15 hits in 20 innings during that stretch. The 26-year-old allowed four runs in seven frames en route to a 5-2 setback versus St. Louis in his last turn. Wood owns a 3-2 mark while yielding just two homers in nine career outings against Houston.
WALK-OFFS
1. Houston LF Chris Carter provided his team's lone offense with a solo homer on Friday. He had two hits for the third time in five games.
2. Chicago SS Starlin Castro snapped an 0-for-15 stretch with a double on Friday. Castro is 7-for-19 in his career versus Norris.
3. Astros C Jason Castro saw his seven-game hitting streak come to an end. He is 0-for-3 lifetime versus Wood.