Houston Astros vs Chicago Cubs Betting Pick & Prediction for 5/22

MLB game preview

The Houston Astros will play against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The game is set for Friday, May 22, 2026, at 2:20 PM. The weather is expected to be cool with overcast clouds.

The Astros have a record of 20-31 and are fourth in the AL West. The Cubs hold a record of 29-21 and are second in the NL Central. Spencer Arrighetti will pitch for the Astros, while Jameson Taillon will take the mound for the Cubs.

Houston Astros Team Preview

The Houston Astros have had mixed results in their recent games. On May 20th, they lost to the Minnesota Twins 4-1. In that game, Mike Burrows pitched six innings but allowed four earned runs.

On May 19th, the Astros secured a narrow win against the Twins with a score of 2-1. Jason Alexander was solid on the mound, pitching six scoreless innings. Isaac Paredes contributed with a two-run home run.

The Astros’ hitting is ranked 7th in batting average and 6th in slugging percentage for the season. Yordan Alvarez leads the team with a .303 batting average and 15 home runs. Spencer Arrighetti will start the next game with a 1.50 ERA this season.

Astros vs Cubs Game Day Info

  • Sport: MLB
  • Teams: Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs
  • Venue: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL
  • Date: Friday, May 22, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Astros Moneyline +122, Cubs Moneyline -146, Astros Runline +1.5 (-179), Cubs Runline -1.5 (+149), Total Over/Under 7.0 (-110)

Chicago Cubs Team Preview

The Chicago Cubs have struggled in recent games, dropping five straight. They lost to the Milwaukee Brewers on May 20th, 5-0. Edward Cabrera pitched three innings, allowing one earned run on four hits.

Despite their recent losses, the Cubs’ offense has some bright spots. Nico Hoerner has been consistent, hitting .264 with 30 RBIs. Michael Busch and Dansby Swanson have each contributed four home runs this season.

The Cubs rank second in on-base percentage at .337, showing patience at the plate. However, they have struggled with strikeouts, ranking 15th. Jameson Taillon is the probable starter for their next game, holding a 4.97 ERA this season.

BTB Betting Pick

The Cubs have a moneyline of -146, while the Astros sit at +122. The Cubs have a stronger pitching staff with an ERA of 4.07, which ranks 14th, compared to the Astros’ 5.34 ERA, ranking 29th. Given the Cubs’ better pitching and home advantage, the recommendation is to pick the Cubs to win straight up.

The total for the game is set at 7.0 runs, with both the over and under at -110. The Cubs have a solid on-base percentage of .337, which ranks 2nd, and the Astros’ pitching struggles suggest potential for more runs. The projected score leans towards an over, so the recommendation is to take the over 7.0 total runs.