The Houston Astros will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in a high-profile three-game series at Dodger Stadium minus the 2017 American League MVP Jose Altuve, who is on the 10-day disabled list because of a knee injury. Can the Astros still dominate without Altuve? Or will the Dodgers capitalize on his absence?
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Game by Game Betting Preview for the Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Dodgers Regular Season Series Running from August 3-5 2018
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles CA
When:
Game 1 Friday, August 3, 10:10PM EST
Game 2 Saturday, August 4, 9:10PM EST
Game 3 Sunday, August 5, 4:10PM EST
Line: Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Dodgers – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Game 1 Friday, August 3, 10:10PM EST
Starters: Justin Verlander (10-6, 2.24 ERA) vs. Alex Wood (7-5, 3.68 ERA)
Pitching:
Verlander will make his first start this August after going 1-2 with a 2.70 ERA in five starts last August. In his most recent start, he allowed two earned runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts in 5.0 innings of a 7-3 loss at home to Texas on July 28. He is 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA in 10 starts this season. Wood has allowed just two runs on six hits over his last starts, which spanned 11.2 innings. He is 3-2 with a 3.77 ERA in 10 home starts this year.
Hitting:
- Manny Machado is 7-for-27 vs. Verlander.
- The current set of Houston hitters are 3-for-17 vs. Wood.
Writer’s Prediction:
Los Angeles wins, 4-3.
Game 2 Saturday, August 4, 9:10PM EST
Starters: Lance McCullers Jr. (10-6, 4.06 ERA) vs. Kenta Maeda (7-6, 3.48 ERA)
Pitching:
McCullers is looking to end his slump, as he has picked up a loss in each of his last three starts. He had a 1-3 record and a 6.53 ERA in four starts in July. He aims to get back to his winning ways when he makes a trip to the mound at Dodger Stadium. He is 6-3 with a 4.67 in 11 road starts this season. Maeda has allowed eight earned ruins on 13 hits across 11.2 innings in his last two starts. The Dodgers are 2-2 in Maeda’s last four home starts.
Hitting:
- Yasiel Puig is 2-for-3 against McCullers.
- Martin Maldonado is the only hitter on the Astros’ lineup with experience batting against Maeda. He is 0-for-8 against the Japanese hurler.
Writer’s Prediction:
Houston wins, 6-4.
Game 3 Sunday, August 5, 4:10PM EST
Starters: Gerrit Cole (10-3, 2.55 ERA) vs. Walker Buehler (4-3, 3.92 ERA)
Pitching:
Cole has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last four starts. In his most recent trip to the mound, he allowed just two earned runs on four hits in 6.2 innings of a 2-0 loss in Seattle on July 30. He is 1-1 with a 2.73 ERA in his last five starts. Buehler pitched well in his last start, allowing just an earned run on five hits in seven innings of a 1-0 loss to Milwaukee at home. He is 2-2 with a 2.97 ERA in seven appearances at home, including six starts.
Hitting:
- Yasiel Puig is 5-for-11 vs. Cole.
- No historical data available for the Astros’ hit squad vs Walker Buehler.
Writer’s Prediction:
Houston wins, 5-4.
Writer’s Overall Series Prediction
The Astros take two of three games against the home team.
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