The Chicago Cubs host the Houston Astros on May 23, 2026. First pitch from Wrigley Field is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on MARQ.
The Cubs are favored by -156 on the moneyline and by -1.5 on the run line. The Astros are +129 on the moneyline and +1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 7.5 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Astros vs Cubs parlay picks below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Astros vs Cubs Odds
| Astros Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -171 | 7.5 -103o / -117u | +129 |
| Cubs Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +141 | 7.5 -103o / -117u | -156 |
Astros vs Cubs MLB Picks
Story: Lefty Sluggers to Shine on Sunday Afternoon
The Cubs and Astros square off on Saturday afternoon in the second of a three-game set at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
The Astros will be sending out spot-starter Kai-Wei Teng to take the mound, while right-hander Colin Rea will be on the bump for the Cubs.
Below, I will break down Sunday’s matchup and provide a “same-game-parlay” (SGP) betting angle that you can take when wagering on this interleague clash.
Chicago Cubs Player Prop: Pete Crow Armstrong Hits+Runs+RBIs
For the first leg of our SGP ahead of Sunday afternoon’s game at Wrigley, I will be looking to target Cubs’ OF Pete Crow-Armstrong to exceed his 1.5 HRR (Hits + Runs + RBIs) mark in a game I expect to deliver runs.
Despite Astros’ opener Kai-Wei Teng currently playing in his third season in the Big Leagues after having spent two years with the Giants, the Taiwan-native has a rather small sample size on the mound with the majority of his prior appearances having come in minor league play.
That said, the Astros’ 27-year-old right-hander appears to have found a stable role this season in Houston with Teng having been very effective in his new opener role across his last three outings.
Though Teng has been used sparingly in the bullpen in 2026, he has been stellar across his 31 frames on the bump with the Astros’ righty having recorded a 2.61 ERA and 1.10 WHIP thus far.
While the Taiwan product is in great form, having allowed just three earned runs (ER) over his last 11 innings on the bump, Houston’s righty has also struggled far more with left-handed hitters compared to righties.
Given that fact, Cubs’ lefty slugger Pete Crow Armstrong may pose some problems for Teng, whose lack of command and high walk-rate versus left-handed hitters.
Despite an impressive off-speed arsenal featuring an impressive sweeper amongst several other pitches, his stuff has been destroyed versus lefties this season with his change-up having been very susceptible to hard-contact.
Even if Teng is to find success on the bump, he is not expected to pitch more than a few innings, which should open up the door for a red-hot Cubs lineup to torch a struggling Astros bullpen.
Both Teng’s walk rate (BB/9) and his vulnerability to pitching against left-handed hitters should result in Crow-Armstrong reaching the base paths, where he is one of the best base-runners in all of baseball.
The Cubs’ young superstar to exceed his 1.5 HRR mark should provide a great foundation as the front leg of Sunday afternoon’s SGP.
Houston Astros Player Prop: Yordan Alvarez Total Bases
For the second leg of our SGP ahead of Sunday’s interleague matchup, I will be looking to target Astros’ left-handed slugger Yordan Alvarez, who is one of the best hitters on the planet right now.
The Astros’ designated-hitter (DH) is scorching at the plate in 2026, having recorded a .302 batting average (AVG) thus far. Alvarez has smashed 15 homers already to go along with 31 RBIs as Houston’s lefty also ranks second in baseball with a 1.017 OPS on the season.
In addition to Cubs righty Colin Rea being in the midst of a terrible slump to start the season, having recorded a 4.98 ERA and 1.43 WHIP thus far, Chicago’s veteran has also struggled far more against left-handed hitters over the course of his career.
Right-handed hitters are batting just .188 AVG at the plate versus Rea in 2026, while lefties are slashing with a .333 AVG and .458 slugging percentage (SLG).
The Cubs’ righty struggles the most versus lefty sluggers like Yordan, who consistently boast hard-hit rates versus Rea, and an uncanny ability to launch four-seam fastballs boasting elite exit velocity.
Yordan is a nightmare matchup for the Cubs’ veteran, with the Astros’ slugger already having ripped a double versus Rea in a previous encounter between the two.
For the second leg of our SGP, I feel great backing Yordan to continue his hot streak at the plate, and to exceed his 1.5 Total Base mark with a big performance at the plate on Sunday afternoon.
- Pete Crow Armstrong Over 1.5 HRR (+106)
- Yordan Alvarez Over 1.5 Total Bases (+119)
Parlay Odds: +351 (DraftKings)
