Astros vs Dodgers Odds: Interleague Battle Highlights Friday’s MLB Schedule

• The Astros have lost five of their last seven games and 10 of their last 15 games.
• The Dodgers have lost 10 of their last 16 games.
• The Astros have been held to one run or less in four of their last 10 games.

Astros vs Dodgers Odds

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook. 

Astros vs Dodgers Pick

• Dodgers to Win

The two elite teams in baseball over the last handful of years are set to meet on Friday night when the Houston Astros visit the Los Angeles Dodgers. The game is the first of a three-game series and is a rematch of the 2017 World Series, which the Astros won in seven games. Of course, both teams currently find themselves fighting an uphill battle in their own division, meaning a playoff spot is far from guaranteed for both the Astros and Dodgers this season, making this an important game for both sides.

For the Astros, a win on Friday would be their third in a row after taking a home series from the Mets earlier this week. However, Houston isn’t far removed from a five-game losing streak and is just 5-10 in its last 15 games. That stretch has them 5.5 games behind the Rangers in the AL West, giving them plenty of room to make up. For what it’s worth, the Astros currently hold the final Wild Card spot in the American League, but that lead is just half a game over both the Blue Jays and Angels.

The Dodgers aren’t in much better shape, as they are currently third in the NL West. Despite winning back-to-back games against the Angels this week, the Dodgers spent last weekend getting swept by the Giants, outscored 29-8 over three games. In their last 16 games, the Dodgers are just 6-10, giving them the same number of wins this season as the Astros. They also hold the final Wild Card spot in their league but remain four games behind the Diamondbacks, who are currently atop the NL West.

Despite their recent problems, the Dodgers are home favorites on Friday. DraftKings gives them a -145 moneyline while Houston’s moneyline is set at +125. There is also an over/under of 8.5 total runs. Check out other MLB betting sites for more betting opportunities!

Houston Astros Predictions

With several injuries to their starters, the Astros will turn to J.P. France on Friday. The 28-year-old is just eight starts into his big-league career but has held his own thus far. He’s 2-2 with a 3.42 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP over those eight starts despite the Astros being 3-5 in those games. The good news is that France has pitched at least six innings in his last four starts. The Astros need 6.2 innings from their bullpen on Wednesday, so even with an off day on Thursday, they could use a long outing from France to help serve as the bridge to their late-game relievers.

The other piece of good news for the Astros is their lineup woke up with a 10-run output on Wednesday. That could be a sign that the Astros are coming out of a team-wide funk that has seen them held to one run or less four times in their last 10 games. To be fair, Yordan Alvarez being on the IL changes the look of Houston’s lineup. But Kyle Tucker and Jose Abreu have also slumped over the past week, further depleting the Houston lineup despite the best efforts of Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve.

Los Angeles Dodgers Predictions

Much like the Astros, the Dodgers have seen their starting rotation hit by injuries. That will force Los Angeles to send 23-year-old Emmet Sheehan to the mound on Friday. Sheehan is the team’s no. 8 prospect, although he’s been rushed to the majors with less than 60 innings at double-A and none at triple-A. That being said, his MLB debut was a smashing success, as Sheehan threw six scoreless and hitless innings against the Giants last Friday, allowing just two walks before being pulled despite having a no-hitter in the works. That should give the Dodgers some hope that Sheehan can deliver another good performance, even if he’s not quite as dominant.

Of course, the Dodgers also need their offense to get going. They managed to win two games against the Angels this week despite scoring four total runs. Max Muncy is on the IL, so one of the core members of the lineup is missing. But that shouldn’t fully excuse just 12 total runs over their last five games. With Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts still anchoring the lineup and Will Smith starting to heat up, the Dodgers should be able to eke out enough runs to win on Friday, assuming Sheehan is able to pick up where he left off in his first career start.

Astros vs Dodgers - Over/Under Analysis

There is always the potential for offensive fireworks when these two teams get together. But with two promising young pitchers on the mound and two lineups that have been generally cold over the last week, that may not be the case on Friday. While the Dodgers are one of the best teams in the majors at hitting the over, they are far better at doing so on the road than at home. The Astros, meanwhile, are 15-19 O/U on the road this season. The way things have been going, it would be a surprise to see both of these teams come alive offensively, making under 8.5 runs the better option.

How to Watch Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Dodgers

• What: Houston Astros vs Los Angeles Dodgers
• Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California
• When: 10:10 PM EST, Friday, June 23
• How to Watch: AT&T SportsNet, SportsNet Los Angeles, MLB Network