Houston rolls into Wrigley at 20-31 and somehow has the better starter on the mound. That's the kind of season it's been for the Astros — banged up everywhere you look — but Spencer Arrighetti has been the rare bright spot, and he draws a Cubs team that hasn't won since last week.
Arrighetti is 5-1 with a 1.50 ERA through 6 starts and a .173 opponent average, though the peripherals (3.60 FIP, 4.90 xERA) suggest the regression monster is lurking. Jameson Taillon would love to borrow some of that luck — he's already given up 16 homers, the most in baseball, and got tagged for 8 earned in 5 innings against the White Sox his last time out.
Chicago is still the home chalk at -138, which feels like a market that trusts the Cubs' overall body of work (29-21) more than their current vibe (0-5 in the last 5, 2-8 in the last 10). The total sitting at 7 is the giveaway — books expect Arrighetti to do Arrighetti things and keep this one tight regardless of how the lineups look.
- Day-To-DayWalker Janek C — Double-A Corpus Christi placed Janek on its 7-day injured list Sunday due to an unspecified injury.
- 10-Day-ILTaylor Trammell CF — Trammell (groin) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday, going 1-for-4 with a double.
- 10-Day-ILJose Altuve 2B — The Astros placed Altuve on the 10-day injured list Monday with a left oblique strain.
- 10-Day-ILCarlos Correa SS — Correa is scheduled to undergo surgery Monday in Houston to repair the tendon in his left ankle, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJoey Loperfido LF — The Astros announced Monday that Loperfido (quadriceps) has started light running and light baseball activity, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
- 10-Day-ILYainer Diaz C — The Astros placed Diaz (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILLance McCullers Jr. SP — McCullers was scratched from his scheduled start against the Twins on Tuesday due to shoulder inflammation, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
- 15-Day-ILBennett Sousa RP — The Astros placed Sousa on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left elbow inflammation, retroactive to Wednesday, Julia Morales of Space City Home Network reports.
- Day-To-DayEdward Cabrera SP — Cabrera didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 10-5 victory over the White Sox, giving up three earned runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two batters in 4.2 innings.
- Day-To-DayBrandon Birdsell RP — Birdsell (elbow) will miss the entire 2026 season, Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline reports.
- Day-To-DayJeff Brigham RP — Brigham was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A St. Paul, retroactive to April 6, with a left oblique strain, TwinsDaily.com reports.
- Day-To-DayJaxon Wiggins SP — Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Wiggins was placed on Triple-A Iowa's 7-day injured list Wednesday due to right elbow inflammation, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
- 15-Day-ILMatthew Boyd SP — Boyd (knee) is scheduled to throw off a mound Saturday and is on track for a full bullpen session next week, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
- 15-Day-ILRiley Martin RP — Martin has been diagnosed with flexor strain in his left elbow and is expected to miss eight weeks, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
- 60-Day-ILHunter Harvey RP — The Cubs moved Harvey (triceps) from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
- 60-Day-ILJustin Steele SP — Manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday that Steele's (elbow) setback will keep him sidelined until after the All-Star break, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The Astros injury list reads like a depth chart. Altuve (oblique), Correa (ankle surgery), Yainer Diaz, Josh Hader, Hunter Brown, Lance McCullers Jr. — that's a championship-caliber roster sitting in the trainer's room. Hunter Brown topped out at 96 in a 22-pitch live BP Tuesday and could start a rehab assignment this weekend, which is the closest thing to good news Houston has had in a while.
Cubs aren't exactly whole either with Justin Steele out until after the All-Star break and Matthew Boyd still working back from the knee, which is part of why Taillon keeps getting the ball every fifth day. Get-right spot or pile-on spot — pick your framing. First pitch is 1:20 PM at Wrigley.