Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Picks

Subtract an 8-3 Dodgers victory from two days ago, and LA is averaging a meager two runs per game during its last six games. The Astros scored a huge upset against the Dodgers last night, 2-1, and they can beat them at home again today. The Astros are 7-3 in their last 10 games against the Dodgers. Houston is also 9-9 at home compared to 6-13 on the road. The Astros have the eighth-highest home slugging percentage. The betting line is inflated because the Dodgers are pitching Tyler Glasnow, who has a 2.56 ERA and 0.83 WHIP. Glasnow can be elite like this when healthy. But he has surrendered four home runs. The Astros have the third-highest batting average and are seventh in home runs. Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. rebounded from a rough April with a strong start in his last game. McCullers beat the Orioles 11-5, giving up three earned runs and striking out nine in six innings. Take the Astros. 

It is never an easy task to face the Dodgers, especially when they are pitching Yoshinobu Yamamoto. But the timing isn't really bad to host the Dodgers. LA is 1-4 in its last five games. The Dodgers are averaging a measly 2.2 runs per game during this span. The Dodgers have been without Mookie Betts for several weeks already, and Shohei Ohtani is 0 for 14 in his last four games. That is his longest hitless streak since 2022, when he was with the Angels. Yamamoto just had his only non-quality start of the season against the Marlins in his last outing. This is going to be a bullpen game for the Astros, beginning with Steven Okert. The pitching matchup is a big reason why the Dodgers are such heavy favorites. Houston, though, is 3-0 the past three times it has been plus $1.20 or higher. The Astros play at Daikin Park, which is extremely friendly to right-handed pull hitters. Houston has the highest rate of plate appearances from right-handed hitters in the majors. The Astros are live to spring another upset here. Take the Astros.

Houston's offense is 16th in scoring and 23rd in steals, while the pitching is fourth in ERA (3.51), including second in the bullpen (3.25 ERA). The defense is ninth in fielding percentage, and the Astros are on a 29-19-1 run UNDER the total. Los Angeles pitcher Emmet Sheehan (2.25 ERA) gets his second start after throwing well against the Giants in a 4-3 victory. The Dodgers are on a 6-3-1 run UNDER the total, and digging in here as they try to salvage a game from this series. Take Houston/Los Angeles UNDER the total.

It took some time, but Houston is looking like a serious contender in the AL to go all the way. Houston may not have the slugging offense they have had in recent years, but the pitching is as good as ever. The Texas Rangers are the only team that has allowed fewer runs in the AL than Houston. The Astros entered last night with a 4th of July bang, taking out the Dodgers 18-1. The Astros came into this series having shutout three of their last nine opponents, followed by just one Dodger run last night.The Dodgers prior to their horrific game last night, had allowed more than four runs to any opponent just once in their last nine games. I like this one UNDER the total.