When last we checked in on the 2003 Cubs, they had won four of six on a West Coast trip. It was an odd four of six with a sweep of the Padres and then dropping two of three to the Dodgers. The Cubs hadn’t lost a series since getting swept in a two game series in Chicago on July 23 and 24, over two weeks earlier. Still, the Cubs had won 10 of 15 in that time and had moved back to four games over .500.
But the first place Astros were proving to be a tough opponent to chase down.