Astros vs Dodgers predictions
Looking at the Houston Astros lineup, there’s a lot to keep your eye on. Jose Altuve is always a spark plug at the top of the order, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him reaching base at least once or twice, maybe even swiping a bag if he finds the right moment. Isaac Paredes brings that pop in the middle of the lineup—he’s been their home run leader, and this feels like the kind of night he could sneak one past the wall in Dodger Stadium. With Jeremy Pena currently shelved, guys like Yainer Diaz and Mauricio Dubon should see expanded roles. Diaz, in particular, has looked sharp lately and could piece together a multi-hit game. Lance McCullers Jr. takes the mound, and while his command can waver at times, his strikeout stuff should keep the Dodgers honest through the first five innings.
On the flip side, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been churning out runs at a league-leading clip, and there’s no reason to think they’ll slow down now. Will Smith just keeps finding ways to get on base and drive in runs—expect another productive night from him, especially as he’s been red hot at the plate. And then there’s Shohei Ohtani, who seems to turn Dodger Stadium into his own personal launchpad. I like Ohtani’s odds of going deep in this one, and Mookie Betts should chip in with his typically patient, yet dangerous, approach at the top of the order. Ben Casparius will be given the ball to start, and while he’s not as seasoned as some of the other arms in the rotation, his strikeout ability could give Houston a few fits early, especially given the Astros’ tendency to chase.
With all that in play, this one feels like it’s going the Dodgers’ way. Their lineup is relentless from top to bottom, and at home, they’ve simply been on another level this season. The Astros always have a puncher’s chance, especially if McCullers settles in early, but there are just too many offensive weapons for Los Angeles and the home crowd energy at Dodger Stadium is hard to ignore. I’m giving the edge to the Dodgers in game one of this heavyweight series—expect fireworks both at the plate and on the mound.
