MLB Betting Preview: Dodgers battle Astros

Hunter Pence entered play Wednesday with a nine-game hitting streak.

Los Angeles and Houston begin a four-game series Thursday from the Astros’ Minute Maid Park.  Both teams will be playing out the string the final month of the regular season.

The Dodgers remain around the .500 mark 138 games into the 162-game campaign, but are just eight games off the pace in the National League West.  Los Angeles would have to overtake four other teams in its bid for the wild card.

Houston, locked in a battle for third place in the NL Central, has gone 12-4 its last 16 outings overall.  The Astros still have a shot at finishing the season over .500 if they continue their current hot streak.

Los Angeles left-hander Ted Lilly (8-9, 3.55 ERA) picked up a no-decision against San Francisco Saturday despite pitching a solid seven innings.  The veteran hurler was reached for two runs on three hits (two home runs) with two walks and seven strikeouts on 93 pitches.

The Dodgers eventually dropped that contest as 118 home ‘chalk,’ 5-4, while the combined nine runs eclipsed the 6 ½-run closing total at the baseball betting window.  The ‘over’ has now cashed his last two starts after a 6-1-1 ‘under’ streak.  The two home runs surrendered to the Giants were solo shots hit in the seventh and eighth inning.

Lilly faced the Astros twice this season as a member of the Chicago Cubs, with both starts occurring in late July before the trading deadline.  The 34-year-old went a combined 13 innings, yielding just one run on 12 hits (one home run) with four walks and 14 strikeouts.

Despite those solid numbers, the Cubs failed to win either matchup.  Houston triumphed as a 108 home selection, 6-1, and as a 164 road underdog, 4-3.  The ‘under’ is 3-0-1 in Lilly’s last four starts against the Astros.

Los Angeles continues a 10-game road trip after this series with three games against NL West rival San Francisco.  The Dodgers have struggled this season to a 28-37 road record.

Houston hurler Bud Norris (6-8, 5.34 ERA) finagled a no-decision in Saturday’s matchup against Arizona.  The second-year player lasted just 4 2/3 innings and 102 pitches, allowing five runs on eight hits (one home run) with three walks and five strikeouts.

The Astros eventually won that contest as a 125 road underdog, 6-5, while the combined 11 runs toppled the 9 ½-run closing MLB odds total.  The ‘under’ had cashed his previous four starts despite surrendering 10 runs his last 10 1/3 innings.

Norris has one career start against Los Angeles, occurring in a May 18 setback as a 173 road underdog, 7-3.  The 25-year-old went 4 1/3 innings, yielding six runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts on 75 pitches.  The combined 10 runs went ‘over’ the seven-run closing total.

Houston, 35-33 at Minute Maid Park, continues a 10-game homestand after this series with matchups against NL Central rivals Milwaukee and Cincinnati.  The Astros have seen the ‘under’ go a stellar 22-5 their last 27 games overall.