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Houston at Chicago (NL), 1:20 pm (CT)
TV: CSN Houston
Radio: KBME 790 AM
Cubs SBNation Blog: Bleed Cubbie Blue
Pitching Match
LHP Dallas Keuchel (4-3 / 4.23 ERA / 1.45 WHIP) vs. RHP Matt Garza (1-1 / 4.98 ERA / 1.22 WHIP)
Preview
I've always enjoyed watching the Astros play at Wrigley Field, the brick red and gold seem to fit against the ivy. I was lucky to attend an Astros game at Wrigley Field once in 1998. Strangely enough it was the infamous 'Blue Angels' game. Brad Ausmus bailed out of the batter's box as four Blue Angels decided to have unscheduled fly-over during the game. The afternoon couldn't have been more perfect. Sammy Sosa left the yard twice, and Craig Biggio answered with two of his own - the Astros won 13-3. Here are the highlights from that game.
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Back to present day, the Astros have won six of their last eight. Houston sends their big left-hander, Dallas Keuchel, to the mound looking for his third win in June. Keuchel is sporting a minuscule 1.96 ERA over 18 1/3 innings in June, while striking out 13 during that same period. Keuchel's high ground ball rate (2.13 GO/FO) will help with the ever-present shift in the winds at Wrigley. In one start against the Cubs last season, the left-hander only lasted 4 innings, giving up 6 hits and 1 earned run. Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro were 0-for-2 against Keuchel in his one start against the Cubs.
Matt Garza suffered a latissimus dorsi strain during spring training that kept him out of the rotation for the first part of the season. Garza has failed to look constantly sharp since his return, but he is coming off his best start of the season last time out. The right-hander held the Mets scoreless over 7 innings and struck out 5. Jason Castro is 1-for-3 off Garza with a home run and 3 runs batted in.
UPDATE #2
#Astros-#Cubs officially in rain delay. #MLB
— Brian T. Smith (@ChronAstros) June 21, 2013
UPDATE #1
Weather may be a factor today in Chicago.
#Astros aren't hitting on the field; heavy rain expected in Chicago shortly. Stay tuned...
— Robert Ford (@raford3) June 21, 2013
