Posted at 12:45 PM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle +168 BET365 +170 Sportsinteraction +166 888Sport +165

Chicago +170 over Houston

8:10 PM EST. We are not here to debate the quality of the Astros, as the defending World Series champions are loaded with talent. Houston will send Framber Valdez (LHP - HOU) tonight for his ninth start of the season. Valdez sports a league-leading 2.38 ERA, but that number does not come without a price. One will pay a pretty penny to back the 'Stros in this game, as they are a 2-1 favorite or better at most outfits. That's a hefty price to pay with a team that is struggling to score runs, as Houston has posted just 31 runs over its last 10 games.

Jameson Taillon (RHP - CHC) goes for the Cubs tonight, and while he posts an 0-2 record, that winless mark does not reflect how well he's pitched. The dude is also working his way back from an IL stint, with this being his third start since returning. In his 19.2 innings pitched this season, Taillon has 25 strikeouts to just six walks. Additionally, on the surface, Taillon's bloated ERA of 6.41 is ugly, but underneath the hood, his xERA is a much less embarrassing 3.85.

The Cubs have been careful with Taillon, so we know we might only get a few innings out of him, but the goal is to get him back to full strength, so he may have a longer leash here than he did in those first two stints off the IL. Regardless, the Cubs are a plucky underdog that has to be played at inflated prices like this. They can compete with anyone, the champs included.

Finnie

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