Cubs @ Astros

Who will WIN the championship?/strong>

Chicago Cubs (30-21)

@ Houston Astros (35-19)

Starting Pitchers:

Hamels (CHC): 4-0; 3.38 ERA

Cole (HOU) 4-5; 4.11 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Chicago Cubs: 5-5

Houston Astros: 6-4

Current odds:

Chicago Cubs: (+155)

Houston Astros: (-175)

• A pair of division leaders whose weekends ended with a whimper meet on Monday afternoon, when the Houston Astros host the opener of their three-game interleague series against the Chicago Cubs. Houston registered a pair of one-run wins to begin its weekend series with Boston before falling 4-1 on Sunday. In their first game since placing American League home-run leader George Springer (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list, the Astros managed four hits while committing a pair of errors and falling to 4-3 on their 10-game homestand.

• The Cubs dropped two of three to Cincinnati at home over the weekend, a series capped by a 10-2 setback on Sunday in which they also lost a key bat as Kris Bryant departed following a collision in the outfield. Chicago manager Joe Maddon told reporters that Bryant, who has belted nine home runs this month, was being evaluated for an injury in the head and neck area, and that the team would have an update prior to the series in Houston. Cole Hamels will try to bounce back from his shortest start of the season when he takes the mound for the Cubs in the opener opposite Gerrit Cole.

• Hamels remained unbeaten despite giving up four runs and a season-high nine hits in four innings against Philadelphia on Wednesday. It marked the fourth time in six outings the 35-year-old failed to record a quality start. He is 5-2 lifetime at Minute Maid Park and has dominated Houston’s Carlos Correa, who is 2-for-21 with seven strikeouts against Hamels.

• Cole was the first pitcher in the majors to reach 100 strikeouts this season after registering seven over five innings in his last outing, but he was hit hard while surrendering six runs. The UCLA product owns a 4.60 ERA in five home starts this year after posting a 2.99 mark in 2018. Cole saw plenty of the Cubs during his time in the National League Central with Pittsburgh and is 9-3 with a 2.50 ERA against them.

• Houston’s Max Stassi (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday while fellow C Garrett Stubbs was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock.

• Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo has gone 15-for-32 during his eight-game hitting streak.

• The teams have met twice since Houston moved to the AL, with Chicago taking two of three in both series.