The Cubs will be looking for many firsts on Sunday. A victory would give them their first three-game winning streak of the season, their first series sweep on the season, and it would be their first three-game series sweep at Wrigley in two years. Things look good for this all to happen. They are sending their hottest pitcher to the mound and are facing the worst team in baseball.
Matt Garza has been dominant for the Cubs lately with nothing to show for it. In his last four starts, Garza is 0-1 with an ERA of 2.88. The loss in that stretch was a 1-0 loss to the White Sox. Not only has the offense let Garza down from a run support stand point, but the bullpen has been ever worse. In his last two starts Garza has left the game with the lead and the bullpen has blown both leads allowing 10 combined runs in those two games.
Sunday Matt Garza will look to continue his hot month of July. On the season Garza is 4-7 with a respectable ERA of 3.80. In his career against Houston, Garza is 0-2 with an ERA of 3.21. In those two starts, Garza has received a total of two runs of support.
The Astros will counter with Rookie Jordan Lyles. Lyles is still looking for his first career victory (0-5) and so far this season has an ERA of 4.55. This will be the right-handers second career start against the Cubs. Lyles made his major league debut against the Cubs and pitched well allowing just two runs in seven innings of work.
The forecast at the time of first pitch in Chicago is temps in the 80's with a chance of storms. First pitch is scheduled for 1:20 CST. The game will be televised on WGN.