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Astros-Cubs Preview

Sep 8, 2010 - 5:19 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Houston (64-73) at Chicago (60-78), 8:05 p.m. EDT

After a couple of mediocre seasons capped by an injury-plagued 2009 with Philadelphia, Brett Myers is enjoying a bit of a renaissance with the Houston Astros.

Although Myers is emerging as a staff ace, he's always pitched like one against the Chicago Cubs.

Myers tries to continue his dominance over the Cubs and lead the Astros to their 13th victory in 17 games in Wednesday's finale at Wrigley Field.

Myers (10-7, 3.02 ERA) has become the face of Houston's staff following the trade of Roy Oswalt to the Phillies in July. His ERA is more than a full run below his career average of 4.21, and he has lasted at least six innings in all 28 of his starts - the longest streak in team history and longest in the majors since Curt Schilling's run of 35 straight for Arizona in 2002.

Myers allowed three runs in six innings, but failed to get a decision in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Diamondbacks. Still, he seems to be getting stronger as the season progresses, going 5-1 with a 2.20 ERA in his last 11 starts.

While Myers looks like a new pitcher in an Astros uniform, he probably looks the same to Chicago (60-79).

The right-hander is 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA in three outings against the Cubs this year, and 7-0 with a 2.36 ERA in his last eight starts against them. He also seems to be right at home at Wrigley Field, going 3-0 with a 1.50 ERA in four career starts there.

The Astros (65-73) won 7-4 on Tuesday for their fifth victory in seven games on Chicago's North Side.

Houston has won 12 of 16 overall, and Michael Bourn has been instrumental to that surge.

Bourn had three hits, three RBIs, scored twice and stole a base Tuesday. He's batting .381 with seven RBIs, 14 runs and eight steals in his last 16 contests.

"The last couple of games he's been outstanding," Astros manager Brad Mills said of Bourn, who's hitting .357 with 10 runs and a .451 on-base percentage in his last 11 games against Chicago.

The Cubs, who won 5-4 in Monday's opener, are 9-5 under interim manager Mike Quade. The club hasn't dropped back-to-back games with Quade at the helm and could win three straight series for the first time this year with a victory Wednesday.

Quade is unsure if he'll play shortstop Starlin Castro, who is batting .433 in his last seven games, in the finale. The rookie was benched for a second straight game Tuesday for not knowing how many outs there were in the seventh inning of Sunday's 18-5 loss to New York.

"He's had a couple of good days and has done a lot of extra work and has had some time, so we will see," Quade said. "I asked him to get about his business, you don't want have this wind up as time off with nothing gained."

Quade will give the ball to Randy Wells (6-12, 4.56), who gave up four runs, eight hits and four walks in 5 2-3 innings of a 7-6 win over the Mets on Friday, but didn't get a decision.

The right-hander has recorded a 7.36 ERA in losing both starts against the Astros this season after going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in three outings last year.