Chicago @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 26, 2010 ) Chi. Cubs 5, Houston 2
They may be already out of it, but at least the Chicago Cubs are playing with some pride.
The Cubs will be aiming for their fourth win in five games when they take on the Houston Astros again on Tuesday.
A big disappointment for most of the season, Chicago began to show some signs of life over the weekend, reacting to manager Lou Piniella’s retirement announcement by taking two of three from the rival St. Louis Cardinals. The Cubs even went deep into the night fighting for a sweep of that series before falling in 11 innings on Sunday.
The Cubs shook off that defeat on Monday against the Astros, getting a strong start from Carlos Silva and some timely hits, including a two-run double by Geovany Soto and an RBI double from Alfonso Soriano. Ryan Theriot even got into the act, knocking his first homer of the season in the sixth.
Piniella won’t be back next season and many of the players are fighting for their jobs as well, with new ownership sure to make some changes in the offseason. Derrek Lee is in the last year of his contract, while high-priced former stars like Aramis Ramirez, Carlos Zambrano and Soriano are fighting to prove they still deserve the big bucks.
All of those players figure to still be around after the trading deadline passes this weekend, but Ted Lilly could be gone.
With Cliff Lee having been dealt earlier in the month and Dan Haren going from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Sunday, the starting pitching market is becoming much clearer. While Houston’s Roy Oswalt remains at the top of the wish list of plenty of teams, Lilly and his veteran savvy are making their way up near the top as well.
His 3-8 record certainly isn’t the prettiest thing about him, but Lilly is still sporting a 3.88 ERA and an 81-to-26 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He also has the reputation of being an absolute bulldog on the mound, something competitive teams are always attempting to acquire.
Earning $12 million in the last season of a four-year, $40 million pact, Lilly probably won’t bring back a slew of top prospects unless the Cubs decide to eat some of the remaining money. Then again, Chicago might be happy to be getting rid of any money.
Lilly has dominated Houston in the past, owning a 7-1 record with a 2.36 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 11 career starts against the division rivals.
The Astros will counter with Brett Myers - a pitcher they have been reluctant to deal. Having a resurgent season as a starter, Houston has taken phone calls about Myers lately but would much rather trade the more expensive Oswalt and hang on to Myers, who has an affordable club option for 2011.
Myers has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his last four starts, including an outing against Chicago last week in which he yielded one run on five hits in seven innings but did not factor in the decision.
The veteran right-hander beat the Cubs back on June 6, surrendering two runs in 6 2/3 innings, and owns an 8-3 record with a 2.52 ERA against them in his career.