Tonight, the Houston Astros (14-22) look to bounce back and even their three-game series against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers (22-13) in a special Cinco De Mayo showdown at Daikin Park. It's a matchup that brings extra energy, as these two teams share a deep history dating back to the 2017 World Series—a thrilling seven-game battle that Houston won.
Taking the mound for the Astros is right-hander Peter Lambert (1-2, 3.52 ERA), making his fourth start of the season. Lambert has been a bright spot in the rotation, backed by impressive advanced metrics: he ranks in the 93rd percentile in whiff percentage (34.1), the 87th percentile in expected batting average (.201), and the 86th percentile in strikeout rate (28.8). After signing with Houston as a free agent this offseason, following a stint with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows in Japan's NPB (where he posted a 3.98 ERA with 111 strikeouts over 124.1 innings), Lambert began the year at Triple-A Sugar Land with a 1.84 ERA before getting called up on April 17. He'll face off against Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani (2-1, 0.60 ERA), who has been nearly unhittable this season.
The Astros have held their own against Ohtani over his career, going 3-6 in his 14 starts against them with a 3.89 ERA across 69.1 innings. Left fielder Yordan Alvarez has been the most dangerous bat in the lineup against the two-way phenom, hitting .333 (5-for-15) with a double, a home run, and four RBIs in 18 plate appearances. If there's anyone who can spark the offense tonight, it's Alvarez.
Since that iconic 2017 World Series, the Astros and Dodgers have been two of baseball's winningest franchises, both in regular-season and playoff victories. In regular-season play, Houston holds an 11-10 edge over Los Angeles and has won six of the last eight meetings. The most recent series was a dominant sweep at Dodger Stadium in July 2025, where the Astros outscored the Dodgers a staggering 29-6 over three games. That kind of firepower is exactly what Houston needs to rediscover tonight.
With first pitch approaching, all eyes are on Lambert to deliver another solid outing and on the Astros' lineup to break through against Ohtani. It's a Cinco De Mayo clash with plenty of history—and even more at stake.