Astros vs Cubs Preview: Pitchers Take Center Stage on Sunday

The Astros are rolling right now with two straight wins. Yesterday Walker crushed two home runs—one rocketing 376 feet, another 369 feet to left center. The Astros' bats have been lighting up Wrigleyville. On Thursday, Vázquez went deep to left center and knocked in runs. Christian Vázquez and the rest of this lineup smell blood in the water. Now they face Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga, who's been struggling badly with a 7.2 ERA this season. Houston knows this is their chance to keep the momentum rolling and finish this series strong.

Chicago's in trouble right now. The Cubs have lost seven straight games and won only two of their last ten. Shota Imanaga, their ace pitcher, is having a rough year with a 7.2 ERA. That's not what the Cubs expected from an All-Star. The good news? Chicago still has the better overall record at 29-23 and plays at home where they're 18-10. Wrigley Field is their fortress. The Cubs need to stop the bleeding fast, and Imanaga needs to find his form again before things get worse.

Here's what matters most. Houston's Peter Lambert takes the mound for the Astros, facing a Cubs team desperate to stop their slide. The Astros are 22-31 overall but have momentum now. Will their hot bats stay hot against Chicago's defense? The Cubs' pitching needs Imanaga to stop looking lost out there. Without All-Star production from him, Chicago can't win games. Both teams have injuries too. Houston's missing key players like Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez. Chicago's dealing with issues of their own. This matchup comes down to who wants it more.