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Los Angeles Dodgers vs Houston Astros July 4th 2025
The Houston Astros will visit the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Friday, July 4, 2025. The game is set to start at 9:10 PM under clear skies with a light breeze. Fans can catch the action on SN LA.
The Astros, managed by Joe Espada, hold a season record of 52-35. They have a road record of 20-21. Lance McCullers Jr. will be on the mound for the Astros with an ERA of 6.61. The Dodgers, led by Dave Roberts, have a 55-32 record this season. Their home record stands at 32-14, and Ben Casparius, with an ERA of 3.97, will start for the Dodgers.
Astros vs Dodgers Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Houston Astros vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
- Venue: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
- Date: Friday, July 4, 2025
- Betting Odds:
- Astros Moneyline: +150
- Dodgers Moneyline: -179
- Astros Runline: +1.5 (-137)
- Dodgers Runline: -1.5 (+114)
- Total Over: 9.0 (-120)
- Total Under: 9.0 (+100)
The Astros Can Win If…
The Houston Astros recently played a tight game against the Colorado Rockies, losing 6-7. Despite the loss, their offense showed strength with 13 hits, including five extra-base hits. Cam Smith led the way with three hits and three RBIs, while Jose Altuve added two hits and two runs.
Houston’s batting average ranks third in the league at .258, showing their consistent ability to get on base. They also have a strong pitching staff with an ERA of 3.53, placing them fifth. Their pitchers have accumulated the most strikeouts in the league, demonstrating their ability to control games from the mound.
Key players like Isaac Paredes and Jeremy Peña are vital for the Astros. Paredes leads the team with 17 home runs, while Peña boasts a .322 batting average. With their lineup’s depth and strong pitching, the Astros have the tools to secure a win in their next game.
The Dodgers Can Win If…
The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off a tight 5-4 win against the Chicago White Sox. Clayton Kershaw pitched six innings, allowing four earned runs. Will Smith and Andy Pages each hit a home run, contributing to the Dodgers’ victory.
The Dodgers have strong stats this season. They lead the league in batting average at .262 and home runs with 136. Their slugging percentage of .459 is also the best in the league, showing their power at the plate.
Ben Casparius will start for the Dodgers. He has a 3.97 ERA and a solid 6-2 record. With key hitters like Shohei Ohtani and Will Smith in form, the Dodgers have a good chance to win against the Houston Astros.
The Lean
The Dodgers are the recommended moneyline pick with odds at -179. Their strong hitting stats, including a league-leading batting average of .262 and 136 home runs, give them an edge. The model projects a score of Dodgers 5, Astros 4, favoring the Dodgers’ consistent offensive performance.
For the over/under pick, the recommendation is to take the under at 9.0 with odds of +100. The Astros have a solid pitching staff with a 3.53 ERA, ranked 5th in the league. With the model projecting a total score of 9, the under appears to be a safe bet given the Astros’ pitching strength.
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A Rivalry Renewed: Astros and Dodgers Clash with 2017 World Series Scars Still Fresh
The faces have changed, but the feelings remain. When the Houston Astros visit Dodger Stadium on Friday night to open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, it will be more than just a game between two of baseball’s best teams. It is a renewal of a modern rivalry still defined by the venom of the 2017 World Series, a championship that forever linked these two franchises in controversy. As they meet for a holiday weekend showdown, the scars from that series remain, providing a tense and dramatic backdrop for a clash of titans.
The Scars of 2017
For Dodgers fans, the 2017 World Series is a wound that has never fully healed. The thrilling seven-game series, won by the Astros, was later revealed to have been tainted by Houston’s sign-stealing scandal, where the team used video technology and a system of banging on a trash can to relay pitch types to their batters. The revelation cast a dark shadow over the Astros’ only championship and left Dodgers players and fans wondering what could have been.
While most of the players from that series have moved on, a few key figures remain as living links to that contentious past. For the Dodgers, future Hall of Fame pitcher Clayton Kershaw and veteran utility man Enrique Hernandez are the only players left from that 2017 roster. For the Astros, superstar Jose Altuve and Friday’s starting pitcher, Lance McCullers Jr., are the last men standing. Their presence on the field serves as a constant reminder of the history and bad blood that fuels this rivalry, a dynamic often explored in our expert betting guide.
McCullers’ Mission: A Tough Time to ‘Reset’
For Lance McCullers (1-3, 6.61 ERA), Friday’s start is about more than just facing a rival; it’s a mission of personal redemption. The veteran right-hander is coming off a disastrous outing against the Cubs last Saturday, where he was shelled for eight runs on seven hits and four walks in just 3 1/3 innings. It was a major step back for McCullers, who is making just his ninth start of the season as he works his way back from his own injury issues. Now, he faces the monumental task of getting right against the best team in baseball.
“I felt my stuff was there and it kind of just feels like I have to reset a little bit,” McCullers said after his last start. “It doesn’t get easier for me. I face the Dodgers next and just gotta keep chugging, gotta keep pushing.” While he has struggled recently, McCullers can draw on his fantastic career numbers against the Dodgers, against whom he has a minuscule 1.02 ERA in three appearances.
The Dodgers’ Juggernaut
McCullers and the Astros are catching the Dodgers at the absolute peak of their powers. Los Angeles enters this series with the best record in baseball at 56-32 and is riding an incredible 15-3 stretch since June 13. They just completed a three-game sweep of the White Sox, and their star-studded lineup is firing on all cylinders. Mookie Betts broke out of a mini-slump with a home run in Thursday’s victory, and Freddie Freeman has been swinging a hot bat, driving in three runs with a pair of doubles.
“Really good signs from Freddie, and then Mookie,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think he’ll sleep well tonight, and we’ve got a big series against the Astros, which will be fun. And he’s got a little bit of momentum.”
A Rookie on the Big Stage
The Dodgers will counter the veteran McCullers with a rookie of their own in right-hander Ben Casparius (6-2, 3.97). Casparius has been used primarily in a bulk-innings role but will get the start in this high-pressure rivalry game. Roberts has expressed confidence that the rookie is built up enough to give the team five solid innings, but it is a tall order against a potent Astros lineup. This intriguing matchup between a struggling veteran and an unproven rookie will be a key focus on the scores and odds board.
The Current State of Play
While the Dodgers are the hotter team, the Astros are not to be taken lightly. Before losing their last game to the Rockies, they had won eight of their previous nine. They have proven to be one of the most resilient MLB teams in the league, weathering injuries to key players all season. To see who our experts think will win the opener of this heated rivalry, check out our daily MLB picks.
