Article courtesy OddsShark (@OddsShark)
A potential World Series preview will kick off on Tuesday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers (64-43) host the Houston Astros (64-42) in the first of two home games.
Of course these two teams also met in the World Series four years ago, with the Astros emerging victorious in seven games, so the Dodgers will again be looking to avenge that controversial defeat, this time opening as -155 home favorites on the MLB odds for the first game at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com (how the moneyline works).
Astros vs. Dodgers | OddsShark Matchup Report
Houston was punished for stealing signs during the 2017 World Series against Los Angeles, and that has hung over the franchise ever since. The Dodgers have cried foul about that World Series appearance and their next one versus the Boston Red Sox the following year for the same reason, as both opponents were found guilty of the same offense.
Los Angeles finally broke through last year with their first World Series title since 1988, but the bad blood still exists between them heading into this two-game set, with the teams going in opposite directions.
The Dodgers have won two games in a row, and the Astros have lost two straight, although the latter holds a 4.5-game lead over the Oakland Athletics in the American League West. Los Angeles trails the San Francisco Giants in the National League West and hopes to pick up ground with Walker Buehler (11-1, 2.19 ERA) on the hill Tuesday opposite Houston’s Lance McCullers (8-2, 3.23 ERA).
Buehler has been great for the Dodgers in 2021, going unbeaten in his last six starts and allowing two runs or less five times during that stretch while earning four wins. His counterpart McCullers has been nearly as good for the Astros, suffering only one loss since April 14 and giving up two runs or less eight times in 11 outings resulting in six wins and four no-decisions.
All eyes will then be on Wednesday’s pitching matchup due to the Los Angeles debut of three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (8-4, 2.76 ERA) after he arrived in a trade from the Washington Nationals. Scherzer will be opposed by Houston’s Jake Odorizzi (4-5, 4.30 ERA), who is coming off his first victory in four starts. Odorizzi got plenty of run support in an 11-4 rout of the Seattle Mariners last Wednesday, overcoming the fact that he surrendered three runs, including two home runs, in 5.1 innings of work.
The Dodgers are expected to be huge favorites at sports betting sites.
Since the 2017 World Series, Los Angeles has won five of the nine meetings with Houston. They split two games at Minute Maid Park on May 25 and 26, with the OVER going 1-1, but the UNDER went 6-2-1 in the previous nine meetings.
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