Astros vs Dodgers Odds, Picks, and Probable Pitchers (August 4)

• The Houston Astros shut out the Dodgers in Game 1 of this rematch of the controversial 2017 World Series
• The Dodgers are a -210 favorite to win Game 2, slated to take place at 9:40 pm on Wednesday, August 4
• Read on for a preview, full odds and a best bet for this highly anticipated interleague clash

The Houston Astros (65-42, 31-22 away) visit the Los Angeles Dodgers (64-44, 33-19 home) for the final meeting of a brief two-game interleague series on Wednesday, August 4, with the Astros looking to put the finishing touches on a sweep after Tuesday night’s 3-0 shutout victory.

It was a relatively routine victory for a visiting team at Dodger Stadium, where in 2017 Houston won the first World Series in franchise history in a controversial fashion, with the garbage can-banging, sign-stealing controversy soon to put former manager A.J. Hinch out of a job.

But setting aside the bad blood between these two teams, the Dodgers are -210 favorites to bounce back on Wednesday. That’s in no small part because they will be led by Max Scherzer on the mound, with the three-time Cy Young Award winner set to make his Dodger debut following last week’s trade from the Washington Nationals. He goes up against Jake Odorizzi, who will be making the first start of his career against the Dodgers.

Astros vs Dodgers Odds

Odds as of August 4th at DraftKings

Probable Pitchers

Despite making 205 career starts, Odorizzi will be venturing into unfamiliar territory Wednesday night when he takes the mound at Dodger Stadium for the very first time. Los Angeles is one of just three teams the 31-year-old right-hander has yet to face – along with Colorado and Washington – owing to the fact that he has spent his entire career pitching for American League teams.

Jake Odorizzi's last four appearances: 1.42 ERA, 2.09 FIP, 26.9 K-BB%, 31.3 K%, 0.53 WHIP, 13.2 SwStr% and 0.47 HR/9.

He hasn't allowed an earned run in his last three appearances and is doing all of this by upping his fastball usage. pic.twitter.com/3PAwup3L3Q

— Michael Simione (@SPStreamer) June 28, 2021

However, given the amount of player movement during that time, he still has a track record with some of those on the Dodgers roster, particularly former AL MVP Mookie Betts, who he faced many times while the outfielder was with the Boston Red Sox.

Odorizzi vs Scherzer Stats

Los Angeles’ relative lack of familiarity with Odorizzi could be something that he can use to his advantage, particularly given he will need every edge he can get. The Dodgers are the highest-scoring team in the NL, putting up 560 so far.

While Scherzer may be making his Dodger debut on Wednesday night, he is no stranger to World Series tilts with these Houston Astros. However, unlike the Dodgers, Scherzer and his former team, the Washington Nationals, came out on the winning end of the matchup when they met in the 2019 World Series.

Thank you, Max. For everything.

• 189 starts
• 1,610 strikeouts
• 76 10-K games
• 6 All-Star selections
• 2 Cy Young Awards
• 1 20-K game
• 1 World Series ring
• A lifetime of memories

(See you in Cooperstown.)@Max_Scherzer // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/r1gzkmt0jm

— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 30, 2021

The veteran right-hander went 1-0 with a 3.60 ERA in two starts in that Fall Classic, which is the most recent time he has faced Houston. Before that you have to go all the way back to the 2014 season for the last time the three-time Cy Young winner took the mound against the Astros.

Batting Average vs Starting Pitchers

However, he has had good success against them, going 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA in seven appearances against them, a stretch that included six starts.

But while the Dodgers may be the second-highest-scoring team in baseball, Houston’s offense is even deadlier, with the ‘Stros cashing in 583 runs now following their 3-0 win on Tuesday night. Despite the possibility of debut nerves, Scherzer can take comfort in the fact that he will be backed by the best defense in baseball, with the Dodgers giving up just 398 runs this season.

Dodger Stadium is the #2 park for HRs on Wednesday for Max Scherzer’s first start in L.A.

85° at start time with the wind blowing out toward the shallow CF fence.

Only 10% of games at Dodger Stadium are played in 81° and above.#Astros @ #Dodgers https://t.co/OJeRhmfJeN pic.twitter.com/DIUEZe9N6z

— Ballpark Pal (@BallparkPal) August 4, 2021

And he will be playing at Dodger Stadium, a facility that has operated as very friendly confines of late for the home side. Los Angeles is 33-19 at home this year, which is the third-best record in MLB behind just San Francisco Giants and Chicago White Sox. LA is also 4-2 at home in interleague games this season, with the Dodgers overall record standing at 25-11 in such games since the start of last year, the best record in all of baseball.

.@Max_Scherzer spoke pregame with @kirsten_watson about joining the #Dodgers and making his debut Wednesday against the Astros. pic.twitter.com/ZlIDiZdV7x

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) August 1, 2021

Scherzer is also no stranger to pitching at Dodger Stadium either. Wednesday will be the 10th start he has made there in the regular season, with the veteran boasting a 4-3 record with a sparkling 2.81 ERA in the 57.2 innings he has pitched there.

Astros vs Dodgers Pick

While I fully expect the Dodgers to bounce back from the series-opening defeat, picking the Dodgers to win at -225 is hardly what I would call a ‘best bet.’ Instead, I’m looking at the Dodgers to unleash their terrifying offensive arsenal, and so I’m looking at both the runline and the over/under to find value here.

Best bet: Dodgers -1.5 (-115); Over 8.5 (-120)