Houston Astros vs Chicago Cubs Betting Pick & Prediction for 5/23

MLB game preview

The Houston Astros visit the Chicago Cubs for an MLB regular season game. The game will be played at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Cubs hold a 29-22 record, while the Astros are at 21-31.

Houston is coming off a win and has a recent 5-5 record in their last ten games. Meanwhile, the Cubs are on a six-game losing streak, with a 2-8 record in their last ten games. The weather is expected to be mild with overcast clouds.

Houston Astros Team Preview

The Houston Astros are coming off a win against the Chicago Cubs, with a final score of 4-2. Spencer Arrighetti had a solid outing, pitching 5 innings and giving up no earned runs. Christian Vázquez contributed with a home run and two RBIs in the game.

In recent games, the Astros have seen mixed results. They lost to the Minnesota Twins 4-1 on May 20th, despite a strong showing from Cam Smith with two hits. However, they managed a win against the Twins on May 19th, with Isaac Paredes hitting a home run.

For the current season, the Astros hold a team batting average of .247, ranking 7th in the league. Yordan Alvarez stands out with a .303 average and 15 home runs. On the pitching side, Kai-Wei Teng is expected to start the next game, bringing a 2.61 ERA into the matchup.

Astros vs Cubs Game Day Info

  • Sport: MLB
  • Teams: Houston Astros vs. Chicago Cubs
  • Venue: Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL
  • Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Astros +126, Cubs -151

Chicago Cubs Team Preview

The Chicago Cubs have been facing challenges in their recent games. They lost to the Houston Astros on May 22nd, 2026, with a score of 4-2. Jameson Taillon started on the mound and pitched 4 2/3 innings, giving up 4 earned runs.

In their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 20th, 2026, the Cubs lost 5-0. Edward Cabrera started and pitched for 3 innings, allowing 1 earned run. The Cubs managed only 2 hits against the Brewers.

Offensively, Nico Hoerner has been a key player for the Cubs. He holds a batting average of .259 with 4 home runs and 30 RBIs. Dansby Swanson leads the team in home runs with 7, despite a lower batting average of .187.

BTB Betting Pick

The Cubs are favored on the moneyline at -151, while the Astros are at +126. With a stronger on-base percentage and a better overall pitching ERA, the Cubs have the edge. The projected score favors the Cubs, making them the recommended pick to win straight up.

The total for the game is set at 7.5 runs, with the over at -105 and the under at -115. Considering the Cubs’ mid-tier ERA and the Astros’ lower batting average, the game might be low-scoring. The projected total suggests the under is the better choice for this game.