MLB series of the week: Astros vs. Cubs

In this week’s MLB series of the week, we have a team in the Astros that has started out just awful, and a Cubs team that is currently sitting in second in the NL Central.

A tale of two polar opposite stories makes this series that much more interesting as JP France and Jordan Wicks will start on the mound in Game 1 of the series.

Here is a preview of both teams and how their season has fared so far.

Houston Astros, 7-16, fifth in AL West

To say this start is bad is really an understatement for the normally consistent Astros squad. However, the injuries especially on the mound have not helped their cause.

Christian Javier and Framber Valdez are both on 15-day IL, and their absences have led to an Astros squad that has looked pedestrian for the majority of this early season.

However, in the midst of a bad start in H-town, Ronel Blanco has been pitching on a superstar-type level, and Justin Verlander is back after making his first start last week, and picking up the victory.

The hitting besides Alex Bregman has been there to start the year which makes you wonder if the Astros are a serious threat to comeback from this slow start. Spoiler alert, they are.

Two things need to happen to ensure that the Astros can bounce back. The obvious number one that doesn’t involve injury, is getting Josh Hader back on track.

Hader has struggled tremendously this season with an 8.38 ERA and only two total saves out of 23 total games.

The second option is getting their pitching staff healthy. If Verlander can keep dealing, and Valdez (who is projected to come back soon) can get back to his Cy Young form, then Houston can easily avenge their slow start.

Chicago Cubs, 13-9, second in NL Central

The Cubs have been a consistent team to start the season, and help is on the way.

The return of star hitter Seiya Suzuki is soon according to manager Craig Counsel. Along with Suzuki, starting pitcher Jameson Taillon is back for the Cubs, and got his first win last Friday against Miami.

To go along with the return of two important pieces, the starting pitching has been excellent, especially from two young international stars.

Baseball stars from Japan have made an immediate impact in the MLB, and Shota Imanaga is no different.

The ace for Chicago has been nothing but stellar to start the year with a 3-0 record, 0.84 ERA and an insane two earned runs in 21 innings pitched.

In his third year, the Mexican Javier Assad has also been just as good to compliment his Japanese teammate.

Do not overlook the hitting from this Cubs lineup, however. Michael Busch has shot out of a cannon in his first year in Chicago with six home runs and 15 RBIs to start the year.

The Cubs have a clear path to take the NL Central crown, and with a start like this, no one is questioning their talent.

Series prediction:

In this series with Verlander getting the start in the series finale on Thursday, I don’t think the Cubs will sweep the series, but they will definitely win it.

An impact player to watch out for is Dansby Swanson for Chicago. With relatively weak pitching from Houston in this series, I would expect Swanson to get back on track this week after a slow start.

For Houston, watch out for Jose Altuve. He has been on a heater lately to start the season, and he should be able to keep hitting up in the windy city.

For the game tonight I have the Cubs winning in comfortable fashion 8-4 over the Astros.

Series Prediction: Cubs win two out of three, win series

Giustino Racchini is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him please email him at gar5448@psu.edu.