Interleague rivals will square off in the finale of a three-game series in primetime Sunday night as the Houston Astros (41-35) take on the Los Angeles Dodgers (42-33). Los Angeles will host this one at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 pm ET.
The Dodgers are the favorites in this one playing at home. They are -136 to win, while the Astros’ moneyline sits at +116. The runline features Houston +1.5 (-170), and the over/under for total runs is eight.
Astros Trying To Turn Things Around
Having lost seven of their last ten games, the Houston Astros have now fallen to third in the AL West, 6.5 games behind the Texas Rangers. Houston will look to get back into the win column and salvage the last game of the series.
On the mound for the Astros will be rookie Hunter Brown. Currently, Brown has the fourth-best odds of winning the American League Rookie of the Year award at +1000.
In 14 games, Brown is 6-4 with a 3.78 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and he has struck out 90 in 81 innings. He will look to bounce back from his last start, where he gave up six earned runs in 5.2 innings to the New York Mets.
Offensively, the Astros have struggled a bit without their slugger Yordan Alvarez (oblique). Still, Alex Bregman has carried a bit of the load as of late. In the last week, the third baseman is hitting .417/.481/.833 with two home runs and nine runs batted in over 24 at bats.
Dodgers Look To Take Advantage Of Home Field
After a controversial balk by Astros’ reliever Ryne Stanek sent in the go-ahead run, the Dodgers finished a come-from-behind victory to secure the series win on Saturday. Now, they will look to finish the sweep over the Astros at Dodger Stadium, where they are 24-14 this season.
On the mound, the Dodgers will send 29-year-old righty Tony Gonsolin Sunday night. In 10 games, he is 4-2 with a 2.92 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and he has struck out 43 in 52.1 innings. Like Hunter Brown, Gonsolin was roughed up in his last start, allowing seven earned runs over 5.2 innings to the San Francisco Giants.
The Dodgers come into this one ranked fourth in baseball in scoring, averaging 5.28 runs per game. Mookie Betts continues to be one of the Dodgers’ best hitters. In 288 at bats, he is hitting .257/.353/.503 with 18 home runs, 45 runs batted in, and 55 runs scored.
J.D. Martinez (16 HR, 48 RBI, 33 R) and Freddie Freeman (14 HR, 47 RBI, 61 R, 10 SB) are also having fantastic seasons.
Take Los Angeles To Finish The Sweep
The Astros enter this one 2-7 in their last nine games and 1-7 in their last eight on the road. In their last 11 games against Los Angeles, they are 3-8.
For the Dodgers, they are 4-1 in their last five games and undefeated in their last five interleague matchups.
When both sides are at complete strength, this is one of the best matchups in baseball. With the Astros a bit short-handed and playing mediocre baseball, the Dodgers are the clear favorites in this one.
Take Los Angeles to finish the sweep and win straight up (-136).
