Dodgers-Astros have electric pitching matchup to open series

Every Dodgers-Astros series is going to have a little extra sauce on it for the foreseeable future. That's part of what makes Friday's series-opening pitching matchup so much fun.

Los Angeles' stellar rookie Gavin Stone will be on the mound against Astros ace Framber Valdez in a game that should have a playoff atmosphere down in Houston.

Despite playing well since the break, the Dodgers will be the underdogs  on the road against an Astros team that is 39-24 since its 14-25 start. Here are the lines via BetMGM:

Run line

Dodgers -1.5: +155
Astros +1.5: -190

Moneyline

Dodgers: -105
Astros: -115

Total

Over 8 runs: -120
Under 8 runs: +100

Prediction

Valdez presents a problem for the Dodgers in that he gets a ton of ground balls and it isn't often the fly balls he gives up go over the fence. LA has had trouble scoring at times this year when they're not hitting baseballs out of the ballpark. Stone has actually been even better on the road than he has at home this year, but we'll lean toward the home team in a fun pitchers' duel.

Astros 3, Dodgers 2