The trash cans will be ringing in Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night as the Houston Astros take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in front of a full stadium for the first time since the 2017 World Series. It’s time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Astros-Dodgers prediction and pick.
Los Angeles currently stands at 64-43 and is 33-18 at home. If you put $100 on every single Dodgers game so far this season, you’d be down $803 on the money line.
Houston currently stands at 64-42 and is 30-22 on the road. If you put $100 on every single Astros game so far this season, you’d be up $578 on the money line.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the Astros-Dodgers odds.
MLB Odds: Astros-Dodgers Odds
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Houston Astros ML (+155)
Los Angeles Dodgers ML (-165)
Over 8 Runs (-105)
Under 8 Runs (-115)
Why The Astros Could Win This Game
The Astros are currently the second highest favorite to win the World Series, and the biggest reason for this is their impressive lineup.
Houston's bats have been smoking hot, scoring 6+ runs in five of their last six matchups. Believe it or not, the Astros haven't scored less that 3 runs in over two weeks.
The Astros have few weak spots in their order. Four Astros have 15+ homers, and five have 60+ RBI's. More importantly, Houston was able to get to Dodgers starter Walker Buehler last time they met. Buehler threw only 3.2 innings and gave up two earned in his start against Dusty Baker's squad last year.
Buehler's best pitch is his fastball. The Astro's best hitters feast on fastballs. Jose Altuve, Michael Brantley (who is day-to-day with a sprained ankle), and Yuli Gurriel all batt above .320 when facing velocity. For how good Buehler has been, it's likely we see him tagged for a few runs tonight.
Lance McCullers Jr. will take the mound for the ‘Stros, and he's been dominant for most of the season. McCullers has allowed more then two runs in only five of his 17 starts this year, and he's completed under five innings in only two of 17 outings.
McCullers is a workhorse who's pitched 11.2 innings against the Dodgers in his career since 2017 and only allowed three earned runs. The Dodgers roughed up Diamondbacks pitching in their last series, but they'll be in for a much tougher opponent with McCullers on the mound.
Why The Dodgers Could Win This Game
The Astros bats are hot, but the Dodgers aren't far behind. Los Angeles is coming off one of their best offensive series of the year against the Diamondbacks, scoring 26 runs in the three-game set.
Granted, this was against one of the worst pitching staffs and bullpens in the game. However, the Dodgers have shown promising signs that should carry over to their matchup against McCullers.
For one, the Dodgers lineup is nearly fully healthy. Corey Seager and Mookie Betts returned in the Dodgers final game of the series, and neither skipped a beat. Seager went 1-4 with a walk, and Betts went 2-5 with a homer and a walk. Even Cody Bellinger has shown signs of life, recording two hits in one game for the first time in weeks.
Secondly, McCullers has looked very hittable of late. In his last two outings, McCullers has allowed eight earned runs in only 11 innings pitched. He's also walked five batters in the span.
McCuller doesn't give up many homers, but he can get erratic. In 97.2 innings, McCullers has walked 48 batters. This is not a great trait to have going against the team that draws the most walks in the MLB. Expect the Dodgers to wait out McCullers and hit him for at least a few runs before they get to Houston's mediocre ‘pen.
The Dodgers send their best starter to the mound in Walker Buehler. The righty has been absolutely lights out all year, but even more so of late. In his last ten outings, Buehler has allowed more then two earned runs only twice. In the same span, he's struck out 69 batters. Buehler has also given the Dodgers distance, going 7+ innings in each of his last three starts.
This Astros offense is great, but they'll have their hands full with one of the most electric arms in the league on Tuesday night.
Final Astros-Dodgers Prediction & Pick
This matchup has “over” written all over it to me. Buehler, a dominant strikeout pitcher, has to face a batting order with the least strikeouts in the league. McCullers, who struggles with control, faces a team that leads the league in walks. It would be a shock to see either of these pitchers get five innings without giving up a run or two. Expect both teams to scratch across some runs on the opposing starters, and the bullpens should give up even more to cash this total in the latter innings.
FINAL ASTROS-DODGERS PREDICTION & PICK: OVER 8 RUNS (-105)
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