It was a homecoming of sorts for Kyle Tucker and Ryan Pressly, as the Cubs are in town to play the Astros in a three-game weekend series. Two franchise legends and World Series champions returning, though in different uniforms.
This series has long been circled on my calendar, primarily due to the offseason trades to send Tucker and Pressly to Chicago. For better or worse, the fortunes of this season and beyond between these former division rivals will be impacted by those deals. From Houston’s point of view, the trades helped accomplish two goals: to reduce player payroll, specifically any overage into luxury tax territory, and to help balance out the roster with cost-controlled players.