The Chicago Cubs host the Houston Astros at Wrigley Field on Friday, May 22, 2026, to begin a three-game interleague series as both franchises attempt to break out of severe operational slumps.
The Cubs enter the weekend in second place in the National League Central after dropping eight of their last 10 games.
The injury-depleted Astros arrive sitting 11 games under . 500.
Offensive Struggles Plague Both Teams
Chicago has struggled heavily on offense, batting . 182 and scoring three runs or fewer in nine games during their recent slide.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the team has been outscored 59-31 over this stretch.
The Cubs rotation has also faced issues, with only Shota Imanaga pitching past the fifth inning in the last two turns.
Houston faces similar struggles, posting a . 186 batting average and averaging 1.9 runs per game since May 8.
According to Bleed Cubbie Blue, the Astros have placed 22 players on the injured list this season.
Injuries include starting pitchers Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Lance McCullers Jr., as well as shortstop Carlos Correa, who is out for the season.
Pitching Matchup and Broadcast Details
Friday's pitching matchup features Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon, who holds a 2-3 record with a 4.97 ERA.
He faces Houston right-hander Spencer Arrighetti, who leads the Astros rotation with a 5-1 record and a 1.50 ERA.
The opening game will air exclusively on Apple TV as a streaming broadcast starting at 1:20 p.
m. Central Time.
Manager and Player Reactions
"We're in a funk right now, and it's up to us to change it," said Cubs manager Craig Counsell.
Counsell is managing a roster where several key players have gone cold. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ have both recorded just four hits in their last 37 at-bats.
Alex Bregman remains the only Cubs player with double-digit hits during this stretch, logging 12 hits.
"I think right now we're struggling a little bit," said Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez.
Alvarez currently leads Houston in every major offensive category, making the team's run production heavily dependent on his performance as the rest of the lineup manages high strikeout rates.
"I believe in this group," said Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman.
Bregman noted that his swing felt optimal during preparation and expressed confidence that an offensive breakout was imminent for the roster.
"I haven't contributed to any games where I've given people a chance to feel any sort of good way about what I'm doing out there," said Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Crow-Armstrong acknowledged the psychological toll of recent defensive errors following a previous administrative fine by Major League Baseball, though he stated he still feels positive during his at-bats.
Following the conclusion of this three-game series on Sunday, the Cubs will travel to Pittsburgh for a four-game series against the Pirates starting Monday afternoon.
