[SBRforum Staff]

The Oswalt-Zambrano matchup in Houston makes the Cubs-Astros contest a good bet to go under.


By: Ben Burns
http://www.benburns.com

Our 5-game winning streak came to an end in extra innings yesterday. Today, we'll look to start a new streak with a total from the Senior Circuit.

The under is a healthy 11-5-1 the last 17 times that the Astros and Cubs have faced each other. Roy Oswalt and Carlos Zambrano are both among the elite pitchers in the game and this evening should prove to be another low-scoring affair.

Zambrano has struggled a bit recently. However, he still has an excellent 7-1 road record with a solid 3.00 ERA. Additionally, the under has gone 9-2-1 in his last 12 starts vs. the Astros, including a perfect 3-0 mark this season.

Meanwhile, Oswalt has a 2.88 ERA at home. In his last two starts in Houston, he has allowed just two earned runs in 14 innings (1.29 ERA) while recording 14 Ks to just one walk. Oswalt's lone home start (07/05) against the Cubs this season resulted in a 1-0 Chicago victory.

Play: UNDER

[TexAg001]

No one seems to have the Stros number like Zambrano does. Just going off memory I think his last two starts against the Stros were no hit..or one hitter candidates deep into the game.

[Illusion]

The last four meeting have gone under. My only worry is that Zambrano has been getting hit hard lately, so tread lightly.