Matchup for G99 - Astros @ Cubs

The Astros head to Miller Park South for an important three-game set with the Cubs, who are 6-4 against the Astros this season - though 2-3 in their last five against Houston. And thanks to the Phillies' domination of the Cardinals over the weekend, the Cubs are a half-game up on St. Louis for first place in the NL Central, two games ahead of Houston. The Cubs qualify as "streaking" right now, sweeping the Nationals and Cincinnati (8-2) since the All-Star Break, and have won four straight, outscoring opponents in those eight wins 54-26.

Wandy Rodriguez
In order to gain any ground on the Cubs, the Astros are going to have to (obviously) take two of the three games, and the rotation is set up to do just that (read: no Moehler/Ortiz). A win tonight out of Wandy and he will have achieved a career-high for wins, with 11.

Last three starts:

Date-Opp	IP	H/ER	K:BB	GB/FB	Pit/Str
7/8 vPIT	9	5/0	11:1	10/9	125/85
7/16 @LA	6	5/0	6:2	7/9	108/68
7/21 vStL	7	4/1	5:0	6/14	104/71

Vs Chicago - 2009:

Date-Opp	IP	H/ER	K:BB	GB/FB	Pit/Str
4/7 vCHC	6	4/1	4:3	8/7	89/52
6/10 vCHC	7	5/1	6:2	8/11	116/70

Of course both of those games were no decisions, but the Astros went on to win both games. So...
vs. CHC (career): 4-4, 4.09 ERA/1.38 WHIP, 72.2IP, 75H/33ER, 50K:25BB
@ Wrigley: 1-3, 8.25 ERA/1.92 WHIP, 24IP, 26H/22ER, 18K:10BB

Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 91x361, .252/.318/.399, 90K:33BB
vs Lefties: 22x102, .216/.279/.314, 27K:9BB

When swinging at the first pitch (45): .378/.378/.511, 4XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (265): .194/.233/.263, 80K:11BB
After First-Pitch Balls (204): .281/.394/.515, 37K:31BB

RISP: 26x101, .257/.325/.366, 26K:9BB
Runners on: 48x179, .268/.342/.358, 39K:18BB
2OwRISP: 13x50, .260/.351/.380, 15K:5BB

Carlos Zambrano

And the Astros face the guy they love to hate, Carlos Zambrano - aka Big Angry Z

Last three starts:

Date-Opp	IP	H/ER	K:BB	GB/FB	Pit/Str
7/12 vStL	6	5/3	7:2	4/12	94/56
7/17 @WAS	5	4/0	6:4	8/5	113/64
7/22 @PHI	6.2	10/4	7:3	8/14	115/73

Vs Houston - 2009:

Date-Opp	IP	H/ER	K:BB	GB/FB	Pit/Str
4/6 @HOU	6	5/1	6:3	6/9	97/59
6/10 @HOU	8	3/1	3:2	13/10	104/64

vs. HOU (career): 13-7, 2.59 ERA/1.10 WHIP, 180.2IP, 121H/52ER, 160K:78BB
Career @ Wrigley: 46-36, 3.61 ERA/1.28 WHIP, 765.2IP, 652H/307ER, 642K:325BB

Let's do the splits:
vs Righties: 52x230, .226/.294/.348, 54K:21BB
vs Lefties: 52x192, .271/.374/.354, 41K:29BB

When swinging at the first pitch (63): .254/.267/.373, 3XBH
After First-Pitch Strikes (228): .222/.276/.290, 64K:14BB
After First-Pitch Balls (198): .276/.416/.423, 31K:26BB

RISP: 23x118, .195/.288/.288, 24K:14BB
Runners on: 51x200, .255/.323/.380, 40K:19BB
2OwRISP: 8x48, .167/.298/.292, 12K:8BB