Houston Astros vs Chicago Cubs Prediction, 5/24/2026 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Houston Astros vs Chicago Cubs

Date: Sunday, May 24, 2026

Location: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL

TV: Marquee

Odds/Point Spread: Houston (+125) Chicago (-150)

The Houston Astros (20-31) are hitting the road to Wrigley Field on Sunday where they will meet the Chicago Cubs (29-21). The odds on this game have Houston at +125 while Chicago is sitting at -150. The total is 8.5. The starting pitchers will be Peter Lambert and Shota Imanaga.

The Astros have hit 84 two-baggers as a squad and have knocked 60 baseballs out of the stadium. Houston has a slugging % of .404 and have been rung up 411 times, while taking a walk on 171 occasions. As a unit, the Houston Astros are putting up 4.3 runs per game, which has them sitting at 18th in the league. They have accumulated 208 RBI's in addition to 422 base knocks this year, while their average at the plate comes in at .246. They have earned 218 runs while holding a team on-base percentage of .321.

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Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 1.73 and their pitching staff has a collective WHIP of 1.53. Astros pitchers have relinquished 67 home runs in addition to 274 runs in total (29th in the league). Houston has surrendered 434 base hits (8.8 per 9 innings) as well as 265 earned runs. The Astros have compiled a team earned run average of 5.34 on the year (30th in MLB), and the staff has struck out 431 hitters. They have walked 249 opposing players and their FIP is 5.00 as a team this year.

Astros pitchers have stepped onto the hill with runners on base 54 times in addition to having 38 appearances in high leverage situations. The relievers have 18 holds so far this season (26th in the league). The Astros bullpen have earned a save percentage of 84.6% and have come into the game in 31 save situations. They have earned 11 saves so far this year and have blown 2 of their 13 save opportunities. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 89 runners for the year and 27.0% of those players crossing home plate. The Astros have sent 154 relievers to the hill over the course of the season.

The Houston Astros have earned a total of 1,339 putouts this season, in addition to 390 assists and 17 errors. Their fielding percentage is holding steady at .990 which is 3rd in professional baseball, and have accumulated 46 double plays. The Astros have converted 69.1% of balls in play into outs out of 4,017 innings, which has them ranked 24th in MLB.

Lambert has taken the hill for 278 innings and has accumulated 216 K's during his MLB career. His ERA is 5.95 (184 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.545. He has given up 321 base hits (10.4 hits per 9 innings) and has had 109 free passes. Lambert (10-23 mark in his career) is the owner of a FIP of 5.86 while going up against 1,249 batters during his time in the majors.

The Chicago Cubs have compiled a team on-base percentage of .338 in addition to a team batting average of .242 over the course of the season. They have been called out on strikes on 417 occasions (15th in MLB) and have recorded 410 hits. Chicago has knocked in 58 home runs so far this season and 227 RBIs. The Cubs hold a slugging percentage of .397 and they tally 4.92 runs per outing (6th in MLB). They have notched 76 two-baggers, while getting a free base 228 times as well as putting up 246 runs.

The Cubs are sitting with a team WHIP of 1.227 and have a FIP of 4.37 as a squad over the course of the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio sits at 8.10 (402 strikeouts against 152 walks). They are currently ranked 12th in the league as a pitching staff in total hits surrendered with 393. They have given up 67 homers and they surrender 4.42 runs per 9 innings (14th in the league). The Chicago pitching staff have surrendered 218 runs this season while holding a team ERA of 4.07 (201 earned runs yielded).

With 31 save situations, the Cubs have compiled 11 holds and 7 blown saves. Chicago has called on relievers to step onto the hill in 17 save chances and they have converted 10 saves. Chicago relievers have an inherited score percentage of 27.5% out of their 69 inherited base runners. Their relievers have stepped onto the mound 50 times in high leverage situations and also on 49 occasions with runners on. They are currently ranked 21st in MLB with a save rate of 58.8%, and they have dispatched 151 relievers to the hill on the season.

The Chicago Cubs have turned 35 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .986 (18th in MLB). The Cubs have 472 assists, 25 errors and have earned 1,333 putouts for the year. Out of their 3,999 innings on the field, the Cubs have a defensive efficiency of 71.9% (5th in pro baseball).

In his MLB career, Imanaga has surrendered 311 hits while he has totaled 352 strikeouts in 376 innings. He has given up a total of 138 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.013 and having a FIP of 3.3. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 5.03 and he has faced 1,496 opposing hitters during his pro baseball career. Imanaga (28-15 win-loss mark in his career) holds a 3.30 ERA while surrendering 7.4 hits per 9 innings.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Chicago (-150)

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