Astros vs Dodgers MLB Odds & Expert Betting Prediction.

Astros vs Dodgers MLB Odds & Betting Prediction

Written by on August 3, 2018

The most anticipated series of the 2018 regular season begins Friday night from Chavez Ravine between Houston and the LA Dodgers. The last time the Astros visited the Dodgers, of course, the team won Game 7 of last year’s World Series. Houston opened as an early slight favorite on the MLB odds Friday behind Justin Verlander.

How to Bet Astros vs Dodgers MLB Odds & Game Info

  • When: Friday, 10 PM ET
  • Where: Dodger Stadium, LA
  • Probable pitchers (away/home): Justin Verlander/Alex Wood
  • TV: MLB Extra Innings
  • Stream: MLB.tv
  • Radio: TuneIn
  • MLB Odds: Los Angeles Dodgers -105 / Houston Astros -105 (Total 7)

Series History

It’s the first regular-season meeting between the teams but they met in that epic World Series last year. The Dodgers hosted Game 7 but shouldn’t have started Yu Darvish, who was horrible in his two series starts. Houston won the game 5-1 for the first title in franchise history. George Springer hit his fifth homer — tying the Series mark set by Reggie Jackson (1977) and matched by Chase Utley (2009) — when he connected for a record fourth game in a row, making it a five-run lead in Game 7. Springer would be named World Series MVP. The Astros joined the 1985 Royals as the only clubs to win a pair of Game 7s in the same year.

Why Bet on Houston?

The Astros had the advantage of being off Thursday as they took two of three in Seattle to open this week. It was 8-3 on Wednesday. Marwin Gonzalez went 2-for-5 with two homers. Gonzalez hit both homers off Wade LeBlanc: a solo shot in the second and another blast with no one on in the fourth. The two homers give switch-hitter eight on the season. After a breakout 2017 season, 2018 has been a bit of a disappointment for Gonzalez, as his OPS sits at just .680. George Springer missed that game with a shoulder injury. It’s nothing serious, though, so he is expected in there on Friday. Houston second baseman and reigning AL MVP Jose Altuve is expected to begin running and hitting on Friday. That should put him on track to return to the Astros’ active roster sometime next week. Altuve landed on the disabled list July 28, retroactive to July 26, with discomfort in his right knee. Houston is also hoping to be able to activate shortstop Carlos Correa (back) from the DL late next week. He has been sidelined since late June because of a back injury. It’s Cy Young candidate Justin Verlander here. Verlander (10-6, 2.24) took the loss last Saturday, allowing two runs on nine hits and a walk over five innings while striking out seven as the Astros fell 7-3 to the Rangers. Both runs scored on solo shots by Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Rougned Odor. The right-hander has now lost four of his last five decisions. He is 1-4 with a 3.54 ERA in his past eight starts with 70 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings. Verlander started Games 2 and 6 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium last fall, throwing six each innings time and allowing five runs total.

Why Bet on LA Dodgers?

The Dodgers finished a home series with the Brewers on Thursday night looking to spilled the series. Brian Dozier went 3-for-4 with a homer on Wednesday in a victory over the Brewers in extra innings. It was the first homer for Dozier in his first game as a Dodger since being traded from the Twins on Tuesday. It was a solo shot in the fifth inning, and it’s the 17th overall on the season. He tends to get hot in the final two months. Yasmani Grandal went 3-for-5 with two homers including a two-run walk-off to give the Dodgers the 6-4 win. Grandal broke up a no-hitter with his first homer on Wednesday off of Chase Anderson in the fifth, but the big blast was a two-run shot off of Matt Albers to give the Dodgers the victory. It also gives Grandal 19 on the season, and the three hits up his season slash to .263/.361/.510. Astros vs Dodgers is the hottest game scheduled for Friday Night. Grandal simply has continued his hot play from July when he batted .364 (24-for-66) with 11 runs, four doubles, one triple, six home runs and 14 RBI along with a 1.215 OPS in 22 games. During the month, the Cuban ranked among the NL’s best in OPS (3rd), batting average (T-4th), on-base percentage (.488, 4th), slugging percentage (.727, 3rd), home runs (T11th) and walks (16, T-7th). On Thursday, L.A. was due to activate third baseman Justin Turner from the DL. Turner was placed on the disabled list on July 23 with a right groin strain. The 33-year-old also missed time this year after breaking his wrist on a hit-by-pitch in spring training, and he’s hit just .259/.354/.398 in his 50 games this year. It’s Alex Wood on the bump Friday. Wood (7-5, 3.68) picked up the win Saturday, giving up only one hit and four walks over 5.2 scoreless innings while striking out five in a 5-1 victory over the Braves. The southpaw threw only 58 of 96 pitches for strikes, but Atlanta’s hitters couldn’t make any kind of solid contact on the pitches Wood did put in the zone. He hasn’t lost a game since June 9, winning six straight decisions.

Latest MLB Betting Trends

  • Astros are 5-1 in Verlander’s last 6 road starts
  • Astros are 8-2 in Verlander’s last 10 starts during game 1 of a series
  • Dodgers are 22-9 in their last 31 interleague games
  • Dodgers are 7-3 in their last 10 home games
  • Houston is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
  • Houston is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Houston’s last 11 games on the road
  • LA is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Houston
  • LA is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games at home
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Dodgers’ last 7 games

Expert MLB Betting Prediction Astros vs Dodgers

The best pick here is under the total – a smaller lean toward the Dodgers.