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The Cubs have battled a rash of injuries early in the season, but they improved to a 16-9 record with a 3-1 win Thursday against the cellar-dwelling Astros.
Even with two of their best hitters in Seiya Suzuki (strained right oblique) and Cody Bellinger (right rib fracture), two starting pitchers in Justin Steele (strained left hamstring) and Kyle Hendricks (strained low back), and two reliable relievers in Julian Merryweather (rib stress fracture) and Drew Smyly (right hip impingement) sidelined for most or all of the three-game series, the Cubs swept the Astros to kick off a stretch of 16 games in as many days.