The Los Angeles Dodgers are off to a red-hot start this season, and they're looking to keep the momentum going as they take a 1-0 series lead into Tuesday's matchup against the Houston Astros. With a 22-13 record, the Dodgers sit comfortably atop the NL West, while the Astros are struggling at 14-22, fourth in the AL West.
All eyes will be on the mound, where two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani takes the ball for Los Angeles. Ohtani has been nearly untouchable this season, boasting a 2-1 record with a microscopic 0.60 ERA and 34 strikeouts. The Astros will counter with Peter Lambert, who sits at 1-2 with a 3.52 ERA. The oddsmakers are backing the Dodgers heavily, listing them as -211 favorites, with the over/under set at 8.5 runs.
The Astros have struggled to find consistency at home, posting an 8-9 record at Minute Maid Park. Despite their overall record, they've shown some pop at the plate, ranking fourth in the majors with a .436 slugging percentage. Yordan Alvarez continues to be a bright spot, leading the team with a .333 batting average, while Christian Walker has been on fire lately, going 16-for-39 with three homers in his last 10 games.
On the other side, the Dodgers have been flexing their muscles, ranking second in the National League with 47 home runs—that's 1.3 dingers per game. Andy Pages leads the team with a .313 average, and veteran Freddie Freeman has been steady, going 10-for-43 with four RBIs over the last 10 contests.
Looking at recent form, both teams come in with contrasting fortunes. The Astros have gone 4-6 in their last 10 games, getting outscored by 15 runs while posting a 5.73 ERA. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are 5-5 over the same stretch but have outscored opponents by 13 runs, thanks to a stingy 3.07 ERA from their pitching staff.
Injury concerns loom large for both squads. The Astros are dealing with a lengthy list, including key players like Jeremy Pena, Hunter Brown, and Josh Hader on the IL. The Dodgers are also banged up, with Mookie Betts sidelined due to a back issue and Brusdar Graterol on the 15-day IL. Depth will be tested as these two division leaders clash in what promises to be a compelling series.