The Los Angeles Dodgers just barely avoided a sweep against the St. Louis Cardinals with a win on Sunday, but their offense left St. Louis with little to celebrate. Averaging just 2.33 runs per game in that series, the bats were largely silenced—even against a familiar face in Dustin May. Now, as they head to Houston, a golden opportunity awaits.

On Monday, Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the mound in a matchup that looks favorable for the second straight week. The Astros, dealing with a battered rotation, will counter with a bullpen game. That decision is no surprise given the team's mounting injury woes: Tatsuya Imai struggled early in his MLB career and is now sidelined, Hunter Brown—Houston's ultra-talented young ace—is also out, and the loss of Framber Valdez to free agency continues to sting.

Left-hander Steven Okert will serve as the opener for the Astros. While his 4.20 ERA isn't terrible, the real story here lies in what comes after him. Without expensive star closer Josh Hader, Houston's bullpen has been a disaster. Entering Monday, the Astros are the only team in the majors with a reliever ERA in the sixes—a staggering 6.20. That's well above the next-worst team, the Angels, at 5.62.

There are small signs of improvement; Houston's relievers looked sharper in their weekend series against the Red Sox. But for a Dodgers offense that's been struggling to find its rhythm, this is the perfect setup for a breakout. When the bats need a spark, facing the league's most vulnerable bullpen is exactly the kind of opportunity that can turn a slump into a statement.