Things could get heated in Tuesday’s rematch of the 2017 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros. At home, the Dodgers are favored with a moneyline of -180 for the first of a two-game series. Meanwhile, Houston’s moneyline is set at +150.
The Houston Astros head to Los Angeles, coming off back-to-back losses but holding steady at the top of the AL West. Houston’s 64 wins are tied for the most in the American League, while the club’s +149 run differential is second-best in the majors, behind only the Dodgers. More importantly, the Astros hold a 4.5-game lead over Oakland in the AL West.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers are still playing catch-up in the NL West. Los Angeles is just 8-8 since the all-star break, playing all 16 of those games against division rivals. As a result, the Dodgers haven’t been able to make up much ground on the San Francisco Giants lately, still trailing by 3.5 games with a 3.5-game cushion for the top Wild Card spot.
Take a Walker
Of the many aces in the Los Angeles rotation, it’ll be Walker Buehler’s turn on Tuesday to take the mound. Buehler is having another sensational season, going 11-1 with a 2.19 ERA over his first 21 starts of the season. Over his first starts during the month of July, he went 3-0 with a 1.67 ERA, once again making himself a bonafide Cy Young candidate.
Of course, he’ll be facing a Houston lineup on Monday that’s scored at least six runs in five of its last six games. Even with Alex Bregman continuing to take up residence on the IL, the Astros are continuing to rake with Aledmys Diaz filling in for Bregman. Diaz has nine hits and three homers over his last five games, while Yuli Gurriel is batting .522 with two home runs during that stretch to lead a deep and talented lineup.
Next Chance, Lance
In addition to having a potent lineup, the Astros will send Lance McCullers, Jr. to the mound for Tuesday’s game. In his 17 starts this season, McCullers is 8-2 with a 3.23 ERA. However, he’s started to stumble a little lately, giving up four runs in back-to-back starts against the Cleveland Indians and the Seattle Mariners.
The Dodgers will try to kick McCullers while he’s down, especially after scoring 13 runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. Los Angeles hasn’t added Trea Turner to its lineup yet after last week’s trade with the Washington Nationals, but Corey Seager has returned from the Il and provided an immediate boost. Meanwhile, AJ Pollock and Max Muncy are both scorching-hot and leading the lineup right now, with Pollock batting .520 over his last six games.
Seize the Day
It’s not every day that the Astros have a moneyline as lucrative for bettors as +150. Granted, it’s happening because they’re playing the Dodgers, who have Buehler on the mound. But McCullers is capable of pitching a gem, and the Astros can out-slug any team, so take a chance and bet on the Astros to win on Tuesday.
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