When the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros play on the field it’s never just another regular game. It’s a deal because of their long history of rivalry and the close attention their fans pay. On Monday, May 4 2026 people were watching closely as these two strong teams played at Daikin Park in Houston, Texas. The Dodgers did well beating the Astros 8-3 in the first game of their series.
There’s more to the game than just the final score. Some important stats and player performances came out of this game that could change how things go for both teams this season. From players who are struggling to teams with batting averages here’s what happened and what to watch for next.
- The 8-3 Series Opener: How the Dodgers Did So Well
The Dodgers and Astros were going into the series with feelings. The Dodgers had a record of 21-13 while the Astros were struggling at 14-21. The game showed these standings.
The Dodgers offense was strong from the start, which’s why they’re thought of as one of the best lineups in baseball. A big moment was in the inning when they had a huge rally. The Dodgers loaded the bases. Kept putting pressure on the Astros defense. This helped them get a lead of 8-3 which was hard for the Astros to come back from.
- The Shohei Ohtani Situation: A Slump in a Win
The Dodgers were happy with their win. Their star player, Shohei Ohtani didn’t do well. Ohtani has now gone five games without hitting which’s his longest slump since May 2022.
In the inning Ohtani came up to bat with the bases loaded. He hit a grounder to the Astros third baseman. This was not like Ohtanis strong hitting. He currently has a.246 batting average and a.443 slugging percentage. Ohtani said he doesn’t feel like hes hitting his best now.
Ohtani is still doing great on the mound with a 0.60 ERA and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings.
- Team Stats: Two Strong Offenses
If you look at the stats it’s clear why the Dodgers and Astros are feared. Both teams are scoring a lot of runs.
The Dodgers have hit 45 home runs, which’s third in Major League Baseball. They average 1.3 home runs per game. Have a.272 batting average, which is second-best. Players like Andy Pages and Max Muncy are doing well.
The Astros also have stats with 43 home runs and a.269 batting average. They’ve scored 178 runs, which’s sixth in MLB.. They’ve had issues with their bullpen and defense.
What’s Next: The May 5 Rematch
The series continues on Tuesday, May 5 2026 at 8:10 p.m. ET, at Daikin Park. Shohei Ohtani will pitch for the Dodgers looking to do after his slump. He’ll face Peter Lambert of the Astros who has a 3.52 ERA.
The Astros really need to win this game. They have to find a way to score runs and stop the Dodgers lineup. The Dodgers just need to keep playing and hope Ohtani breaks out of his slump.
