TODAY'S GAME: The Astros and Cubs play the rubber game of their three-game set today at 1:20 p.m. CT at Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL...RHP Brett Myers (7-6) will toe the rubber for Houston opposite Cubs starter LHP Ted Lilly (3-8).

VS THE CUBBIES: With a win today the Astros would win their second straight series over the Cubs at Wrigley Field this season (also, 4/16-18)...the Astros haven’t won back-to-back series at Chicago since the 2002-03 seasons. Houston has already won both series between the two clubs this season by a count of two games to one...this is the first time Houston has won consecutive series against Chicago since 5/19-7/20/08...the Astros haven’t beaten the Cubs in three straight series since 6/5-7/5/06.

ROAD TRIPPIN’: Today is the final game of a six-game road trip that took the club through Pittsburgh (1-2) and Chicago (1-1)...a win today would give the Astros a .500 road trip, which would mark the second time for the club to do this this season (also, 3-3 from 4/12-18, at STL, CHC).

WINSDAYS: The Astros have won 10 consecutive games on Wednesdays and are 11-3 overall on hump day this season...their only other day with a winning record this season is Thursday, with their 7-6 mark.

WORKHORSE: RHP Brett Myers extended his franchise record for consecutive 6+ innings starts to begin a season to 19 in his last start on 7/16 at PIT...the last Astros starter to go at least 6.0 innings in 19 consecutive starts at any point in a season was RHP Roy Oswalt, who did so in 20 consecutive starts from 5/11-8/22/05...Myers’ current streak of 19 ties as the sixth longest in franchise history.

WHERE 19 STRAIGHT 6+ STARTS RANK: Myers is one of just 53 MLB pitchers since 1920 to begin his season with 19 straight 6+ inning starts and the first since Dan Haren also went 19 in 2009...prior to Haren, the last pitchers to do so were Pedro Martinez (22g) and Mark Buehrle (21g) in 2005.

FRIENDLY CONFINES: RHP Brett Myers has had great success in his seven career appearances at Wrigley Field, posting a 3-2 record with one save and a 1.89 ERA (7ER/33.1IP)...his ERA in Chicago ranks as the lowest in baseball among active pitchers (min. 30IP)...Myers made his Major League debut at Wrigley Field on 7/24/02 and earned the win that day by tossing 8.0 innings, allowing one run.

ASTROS EARLY, CUBS LATE: Houston jumped out to a 7-1 lead through 5.5 innings before allowing 13 unanswered runs in a 14-7 loss to Chicago...LHP Wesley Wright made his first Major League start for Houston and lasted 4.2 innings, allowing six runs on six hits...he was victimized by a costly error in the field, which cost the Astros five unearned runs in the 5th inning...3B Chris Johnson (2x4, 2RBI) connected for his second homer in as many nights, while LF Carlos Lee (2x5, RBI) contributed two hits in the losing effort.

TAKE A WRIGHT: LHP Wesley Wright made 126 relief appearances in his three-year Major League career before making his first Major League start last night...Wright become the first Astro to make their first Major League start for the club since RHP Wilton Lopez started for Houston on 9/29/09 at PHI.

BAGWELL NAMED HITTING COACH: On July 11, the Astros named former first baseman Jeff Bagwell as their hitting coach, replacing Sean Berry...Bagwell took the reigns at the beginning on the second half of play and today’s game will be his sixth in uniform...Bagwell had been serving as a Special Assistant to the General Manager since his retirement in 2006.

PAULINO UPDATE: RHP Felipe Paulino, currently on the DL with right shoulder tendinitis, was examined by Astros Team Medical Director Dr. David Lintner yesterday and was diagnosed with with a mild rotator cuff strain...he is expected to be out for approximately four weeks...Paulino, originally scheduled to make last night’s start, left the club on Sunday to have an MRI taken in Houston.

RECENT ROSTER MOVES: The Astros officially recalled LHP Wesley Wright prior to his start last night...following Sunday’s game the Astros purchased the contract of RHP Gary Majewski from Triple A Round Rock...to make room for Majewski on the active roster, the club designated RHP Casey Daigle for assignment...RHP Brian Moehler was placed on the 15-day DL on Friday with a strained right groin...he is eligible to return from the DL this Friday.

INJURY UPDATES: IF Geoff Blum had surgery on his right elbow (loose bodies) on July 7 and had his surgical stitches removed while in Pittsburgh this weekend.  He will begin working on his range of motion before graduating to full baseball activities...RHP Jeff Fulchino (right elbow tendinitis) had a cortisone shot on July 7 and is progressing...he threw a side session on Monday without experiencing any setbacks...he is scheduled to throw a simulated game on Friday before being re-evaluated...RHP Brian Moehler also tossed a side session on Monday and is scheduled for his own siulated game on Friday.

STINGY STARTERS: Astros starting pitchers have posted a 2.51 ERA (28ER/100.1IP) in the last 16 games combined...the Astros are 8-8 in those games.

THIEVERY: Houston has been very efficient with their stolen base attempts lately, collecting 17 steals in their last 21 attempts (81%) since June 24.

ROOKIE HOMERS: 3B Chris Johnson has homered in consecutive games after picking up his first Major League home run on Mon. night...he’s the fourth Astro to connect for their first MLB homer this season, joining Jason Castro, Gustavo Chacin and Tommy Manzella...C Jason Castro’s 3-run homer on Mon. night was the first 3+ run homer by an Astros catcher since Brad Ausmus hit a grand slam for Houston on 8/5/06 at ARI.

VS. FAMILIAR FOES: The Astros are 14-11 vs. NL clubs since 6/7...they’ve won four of seven NL series in that span...the key to this streak has been the club’s starting pitching, as the staff has combined to post a 9-7 record and a 3.07 ERA (52ER/152.1IP) while collecting 16 quality starts in 25 tries.

CENTRAL FOCUS: The Astros own a 21-17 record vs. the Central Division this season...this bodes well for Houston, as the club is currently in the midst of 27 straight games vs. Central opponents from 7/6-8/8...Houston has gone 6-5 thus far in this 27-game stretch.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS: With 143 career wins, Roy Oswalt is just one victory from tying the all-time franchise record of 144, which is held by RHP Joe Niekro. Additionally, Oswalt’s 143 wins rank 3rd in the Majors since he entered the league in 2001.

Most Wins - HOU Franchise Most Wins - Since 2001
1. Joe Niekro - 144 1. CC Sabathia - 148
2. Roy Oswalt - 143 2. Roy Halladay - 145
3. Larry Dierker - 137 3. Roy Oswalt - 143

BERKMAN CLOSING IN ON CEDENO: 1B Lance Berkman is just 17 hits away from tying Cesar Cedeno for fourth place on the Astros all-time hits list...Berkman already ranks in the top four in multiple franchise categories including games (4th), runs (3rd), doubles (3rd), home runs (2nd) and RBI (3rd).