Chicago Cubs vs Houston Astros

Chicago is on a 17-11-2 run UNDER the total. Starter Jameson Taillon is holding batters to a .235 average, and the relief staff is ranked third in ERA (3.31). Houston's offense is 19th in runs scored, 14th in on-base percentage, 20th in steals, and 14th in slugging. Framber Valdez has a 2.04 ERA at home, where he's holding batters to a .210 average. He comes off a 1-0 win over Philadelphia, having allowed two runs or less in six straight starts. The bullpen is fifth in ERA (3.34), with the Astros on a 26-16-1 run UNDER the total. Take Chicago/Houston UNDER the total. 

Chicago plays its fifth straight on the road after shutting out the Cardinals in the last two games, 3-0 and 8-0. The Cubs are on an 8-4-1 run UNDER the total on the road. Cade Horton (3.73 ERA) has allowed three earned runs or less in seven of his eight appearances (seven starts). The relief pitching is fifth in the majors in ERA (3.37). Houston's offense is 19th in runs scored, 14th in slugging, and 20th in steals. The pitching is third in ERA (3.40), including second in the bullpen (3.22 ERA), while starter Brandon Walter has a 1.35 ERA at home. The Astros are on a 26-14-1 run UNDER the total. Play Chicago/Houston UNDER the total.

Houston is on a 7-0-1 run UNDER the total with an offense that is 20th in runs scored. Justin Verlander looked good in his first start allowing two runs and four hits in six innings. The Astros are 66-41 UNDER the total as a road favorite, plus 39-21 UNDER when Verlander starts. Chicago plays station-to-station baseball, ranked last in the majors in steals, on a 10-4 run UNDER the total. Starter Javier Assad (2.11 ERA) is holding batters to a .192 average and this shapes up as a defensive duel. Take Houston/Chicago UNDER the total. 

Houston still is waiting to turn it around as it lost again on Tuesday 7-2 to the Cubs, who got two homers by Mike Tauchman, and the Astros were held to six hits. Houston is 10 games under .500 for the first time since 2016 and it has lost six of its past seven games. Chicago is 8-3 at home and the weather at Wrigley Field calls for 13 mph winds blowing in from center field and 40-degree temperatures. The Astros are 14-8 UNDER this season and Chicago is 7-3 UNDER its past 10 games. Jameson Taillon will make his second start for the Cubs and he did well his first time out allowing only one run on three hits in five innings as the Cubs beat Miami 8-3 on Friday. Spencer Arrighetti has given up nine runs on 11 hits in just seven innings for Houston. Take the Cubs and the UNDER.