Dodgers vs Astros: MLB Prediction, Odds & Best Bets (7/26)

Tonight in Houston, the Astros host the Dodgers out of Los Angeles for game one of a three game series. This is a rematch of the 2017 World Series and both division leaders will be eager to stretch out their lead with some wins in this matchup. Two absolute studs take the mound for both sides and pitch with opposite hands as well, so we will surely have a fantastic game tonight. Gavin Stone and Framber Valdez get the nods for their squads and face very tough hitting lineups.

Since the All Star Break, the Dodgers have won 6 of 7 games, but all were at home. This is the start of an 8 game road trip, and the Dodgers were struggling on the road prior to the pause in the action. Los Angeles has lost 7 of their last 9 games on the road, but they are still 28-22 away from Dodger Stadium this year. Their batting average improves both on the road and against lefties, which plays in their favor tonight as they face Valdez.

The Astros are 3-3 since the break and are back home after all six games on the road. The AL West leaders are just one game ahead of Seattle and 2.5 ahead of the Rangers, so wins are a top priority as their division is completely out of the Wild Card spots currently. The Astros are 28-21 at home this year and have won 10 of their L12 at Minute Maid Park, but do they have what it takes to take down Stone and the Dodgers?

Dodgers vs Astros Game Information: 2017 World Series Rematch 

Matchup Information – Dodgers vs Astros

• Venue & Location: Minute Maid Park (Houston, TX)
• Date: Friday, July 26th, 2024
• First Pitch: 8:10pm Eastern
• Where to Watch: Apple TV+

Dodgers vs Astros Starting Pitchers

• Los Angeles Dodgers: Gavin Stone (9-3, 3.19 ERA, 1.23 WHIP)
• Houston Astros: Framber Valdez (8-5, 3.63 ERA, 1.28 WHIP)

Betting Odds

Odds via BetOnline, an industry leader in the sports betting world. Sign up today using code BNEWS and get a 50% deposit match up to $1,000 AND $10 in Bonus Cash instantly!

Run Line

• Dodgers +1.5 (-180)
• Astros -1.5 (+160)

Money Line

• Dodgers +118
• Astros -128

Total

• Over 8.5 (-105)
• Under 8.5 (-115)

Can Dodgers Upset Astros in Houston?

Although Gavin Stone doesn’t have a win since June 26th, he had a great outing following the All Star Break. Stone threw 5 innings against the Red Sox, giving up 6 hits but just 1 run on a solo home run. He lost his last road start in Philadelphia, but prior to that, he won six straight road outings in dominating fashion. His ERA drops to 2.83 and his WHIP down to 1.12 away from home, but the Astros batting average improves.

Houston hits .261 as a team, 2nd in the MLB, but they are hitting .266 at Minute Maid Park. Stone will need to shove to shutdown these Houston hitters who are also 2nd in the league hitting off of righties. On the other side of things, Valdez has his ERA drop slightly at home, and he’s shutdown plenty of Dodger batters. Shohei Ohtani saw Valdez plenty as a member of the Angels and only hits .118 in 34 at bats. As a team the Dodgers hit .265 against lefties and see their average improve on the road as well, meaning they could scare up some runs.

Now the Dodgers at plus money after winning their last 6/7 games seems like a bit of a trap, however their struggles on the road are real. I think the Dodgers do somehow pull this off, but I certainly would not be betting on it. I slightly lean with the over, however again, I do not trust it enough to press that button. Instead, I will be taking a player prop who thrives in the spotlight.

Los Angeles Dodgers vs Houston Astros Best Bets

Dodgers vs Astros Prediction: Dodgers Win

Best Bet: Teoscar Hernandez Over 1.5 Bases (+127) BetOnline

Since the All Star Break, Hernandez has 2 home runs and one double, and has cleared this line in 4/7 games. He has also covered in his last two on the road, and he doesn’t mind performing against lefties or away from Dodger Stadium. His .267 batting average jumps up to .275 on the road, and all the way up to .287 against LHP. To make things even better, he is ripping a .347 average in the month of July with 4 doubles and 3 home runs.

He’s only seen Valdez for 13 at bats, but he bats .231 and all 3 hits have been for extra bases (2 2B, HR). Even with a rather small sample size, you can’t argue with his performance over the last 30 days. Hernandez has been on the road for 14/20 Doubles, 8/21 home runs and his 1 triple this season, so it’s clear he finds comfort behind enemy lines. For plus money, I’ll back him to find a gap in the outfield or take one out of the park for +500.

Other Games Around the MLB

Check out Today’s MLB Games from our writers at Betting News!

• Padres vs Orioles Best Bets
• Yankees vs Red Sox Best Bets
• Cubs vs Royals Best Bets

Still Didn’t Get Your MLB Fix?

Here at Betting News, we offer Free Expert Picks for every major sports league. We also host daily streams on our Twitch Channel with our best bets, as well as sweat out games on Playback! Be sure to tune into everything we have going on at our Youtube, TikTok, and X pages as well.

For more baseball action, check out these pages below.

• Click Here for Free Expert MLB Picks
• Check out the AL & NL Cy Young Odds
• Here are the current MLB MVP Odds