Chicago’s Jon Lester is 6-0 with a 1.85 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break and opposes rookie Joe Musgrove, who is 1-0, 0.54 in three games (two starts) at home.TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, WGN (Chicago), ROOT (Houston) PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs LH Jon Lester (15-4, 2.61 ERA) vs. Astros RH Joe Musgrove (2-3, 5.06) Lester, who is among the favorites to win his first Cy Young award, took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before pitching a three-hitter in Chicago’s 2-1 victory over San Francisco on September 2. Fiers got a win his last time out with five innings, seven hits and two earned against Cleveland.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Joe Musgrove throws against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning …
The Cubs will begin a three-game series against the Astros on Friday at Minute Maid Park, while the Bears will tangle with the Texans on Sunday afternoon in the season opening game for both teams.
“Felt like that was the real big turning point in the game, ” Lester said.
Lackey worked six solid innings, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
Bregman put the Astros ahead with an opposite-field home run to right-center against Lackey in a two-run third.
With their top two starters sidelined and the clock on the regular season winding down, the Houston Astros are in the precarious position of opening an interleague set against the Chicago Cubs with a busted rotation and an overworked bullpen. Teoscar Hernandez opened the sixth with a double but was left stranded. Bucknor was shaken up after taking the hit and was checked on by a member of Houston’s training staff. Correa said that he was feeling better on Friday and manager Hinch said they hoped to get him back sometime this weekend. Carlos Correa could return Friday after missing three games with left shoulder inflammation. Ace Dallas Keuchel, who is also out with inflammation in his left shoulder, won’t throw until after Sunday.
Cubs: John Lackey (9-7, 3.36) is scheduled to make his second start since coming off the disabled list.
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McHugh combined with four relievers on a two-hitter, rookie Alex Bregman homered and the Astros beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 Saturday as they tried to gain ground in the AL wild-card race. Lester improved to 7-0 with a 1.65 ERA over 10 starts since the All-Star break and has allowed seven runs over his last eight starts covering 53 2/3 innings.
