The reigning World Sequence champion Dodgers are again within the playoffs for a thirteenth straight season and able to begin their title protection. Their opponent within the first spherical? The upstart Reds, who’re within the postseason for the primary time since 2020 and did not clinch their playoff spot till the ultimate day of the common season.
The Dodgers are the No. 3 seed within the Nationwide League and can host the Reds, the No. 6 seed, in every recreation of the best-of-three Wild Card Sequence at Dodger Stadium. Sport 1 is about for Tuesday at 9:08 p.m. ET/6:08 p.m. PT.
Los Angeles will as soon as once more be powered by its famous person trio of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts. However the Reds have a pair of thrilling younger stars in Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene main the way in which. And although the Dodgers are a juggernaut that simply received their division for the twelfth time in these final 13 years, and the Reds snuck into the playoffs on a tiebreaker over the Mets (and solely after the Mets misplaced in Sport 162), something can occur in a three-game collection.
So, who has the sting: the Dodgers or the Reds? This is how the 2 groups match up, place by place.
CatcherIf Will Smith performs, it is a large edge for the Dodgers. However Smith is a query mark for the Wild Card Sequence as a result of a hairline fracture in his proper hand. The newest information is that Smith got here out “wonderful” after taking swings within the batting cage on Sunday, however he’ll must take dwell at-bats on Monday even to be thought of for the Dodgers’ Wild Card Sequence roster. And if Smith does not play, then the Dodgers are going into this collection with Ben Rortvedt and his .152 batting common at catcher. The Reds’ duo of Tyler Stephenson (13 dwelling runs) and Jose Trevino does not stack as much as Smith, but when Smith is out or not at full power, Cincinnati could have the higher backstop.
Benefit: Reds (except Smith performs)
First baseFor Cincinnati, Spencer Steer has some pop (21 dwelling runs), and high prospect Sal Stewart is an fascinating choice who has gotten taking part in time at first base down the stretch. However neither a type of gamers is Freddie Freeman. Final 12 months’s World Sequence MVP is at it once more in 2025 (.294 common, 23 homers, 140 OPS+). Freeman might be one of many hardest outs for the Reds.
Second baseNeither workforce has an enormous standout at second base. Veteran Miguel Rojas has been strong sufficient for the Dodgers, and utility man Tommy Edman has confirmed he can impression a playoff collection — he was final 12 months’s NLCS MVP and nice within the World Sequence, too — however he is had career-worst offensive numbers this season. For the Reds, Matt McLain hasn’t been capable of recapture his 2023 rookie efficiency after lacking all of final 12 months as a result of a shoulder harm, however he’s at the very least a power-speed menace (15 dwelling runs, 18 stolen bases in 2025) who’s additionally a worthwhile fielder.
Third baseMax Muncy is predicted to be able to go for the Wild Card Sequence after lacking the final 4 video games of the common season as a result of lower-body soreness, and that is a key bat the Dodgers could have again within the lineup. The 35-year-old Muncy nonetheless has good pop (19 homers in 100 video games this season) and nice plate self-discipline. Ke’Bryan Hayes could have a tricky time replicating Muncy’s manufacturing on the plate for the Reds, however he is been the most effective defensive third baseman in baseball this 12 months and among the best fielders at any place. Hayes may make a game-changing net gem, however Muncy has been via two World Sequence title runs with the Dodgers and has had loads of large swings over time (13 profession playoff dwelling runs).
ShortstopThis is essentially the most notable place battle of the collection: Mookie Betts vs. Elly De La Cruz. If we had been breaking down this matchup on the All-Star break, it might’ve been a landslide for De La Cruz — he was trying like probably the most dynamic gamers within the recreation, whereas Betts was having his worst begin to a season ever. However now, the script has flipped. Betts has appeared like his previous self over the past two months (.317 batting common, .892 OPS, 9 dwelling runs since Aug. 5), whereas De La Cruz has slumped (18 homers, 25 steals, .854 OPS within the first half in comparison with three homers, 12 steals and a .657 OPS within the second half). Plus, regardless of De La Cruz’s potential to make highlight-reel performs at brief, Betts has been far more sure-handed, with De La Cruz main the Majors with 26 errors. We’re excited to see what De La Cruz can do in his first profession postseason, however Betts is taking part in higher proper now and he has the monitor document, together with in October (.951 OPS, 4 dwelling runs in final 12 months’s playoffs).
Left fieldThe Dodgers are comparatively weak right here, with Michael Conforto batting beneath the Mendoza Line within the common season (.199 common) and Alex Name not the most important impression participant since coming over in a Commerce Deadline take care of the Nationals (.717 OPS in 38 video games with Los Angeles). The Reds have Austin Hays, who returned from again spasms for Sport 162 and has been one in all Cincinnati’s higher hitters this 12 months (15 dwelling runs, 105 OPS+). That is not earth-shattering manufacturing, but it surely’s greater than what the Dodgers have been getting from their left fielders.
Heart fieldAndy Pages has a number of stars overshadowing him in L.A., however he is had a very good 12 months for the Dodgers, with 27 dwelling runs, 14 stolen bases and a 114 OPS+ whereas taking part in a few of the finest outfield protection within the Majors. TJ Friedl (14 homers, 12 steals) is a strong hitter however lacks Pages’ all-around impression.
Proper fieldTeoscar Hernández hasn’t put up fairly the numbers this 12 months that he did in his All-Star 2024 debut for the Dodgers, however he nonetheless smacked 25 dwelling runs this season and had 89 RBIs. The Reds have a proficient younger proper fielder in 23-year-old Noelvi Marte (14 dwelling runs, 10 stolen bases in 90 video games this season), however he isn’t the confirmed slugger within the nook outfield that Teoscar is.
Designated hitterThe Dodgers have Shohei Ohtani. The Reds haven’t got Shohei Ohtani. Cincinnati might deploy former Dodger Gavin Lux or the resurgent Miguel Andujar (.318 batting common and .822 OPS this season, together with a .359 common and .944 OPS in 34 video games since becoming a member of the Reds). Both method, it isn’t near the MVP favourite Ohtani and his 55-homer bat.
Beginning pitchingThe Reds’ rotation is a big power and would give them the sting in opposition to most groups. They’ve an electrical flamethrowing ace in Hunter Greene (2.76 ERA, 132 strikeouts in 107 2/3 innings) and two sturdy lefties behind him in Andrew Abbott (2.87 ERA, 149 Ok’s) and Nick Lodolo (3.30 ERA, 156 Ok’s). However they’re going through the Dodgers, and the Dodgers’ beginning rotation is each bit as dominant. There’s Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who emerged as a Cy Younger-caliber pitcher this 12 months with a 2.49 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 30 begins. There’s Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Younger winner who was restricted to 11 begins this season however has a 2.35 ERA and 10.6 Ok/9. And, ready within the wings, there’s Ohtani, the two-way famous person who simply posted a 2.87 ERA and 11.9 Ok/9 in 14 begins in his return to pitching. You could not go unsuitable with both rotation on this collection, however we’re leaning towards the champs.
BullpenThe bullpen battle here’s a significantly fascinating one. The Dodgers’ bullpen was extraordinarily shaky down the stretch — but it surely additionally may be higher than you assume in October. Why? As a result of reinforcements are coming … from the beginning rotation. Emmet Sheehan, Tyler Glasnow and a rejuvenated Roki Sasaki might all pitch out of the bullpen within the Wild Card Sequence, and that would make a giant distinction whereas veteran relievers like Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen look to proper the ship. Now, will that Frankenstein Dodgers bullpen have the ability to outperform Cincinnati’s? The Reds’ bullpen does not have as large names because the Dodgers, however their key relievers have gotten a number of large outs down the stretch, from nearer Emilio Pagán (32 saves, 2.88 ERA this season) to setup man Tony Santillan (2.44 ERA in an MLB-high 80 appearances) to, extra lately, rookie phenom Chase Burns. This can be a powerful one, however we expect the Los Angeles bullpen, because of the creativity it’d show, might turn out to be a power once more this October, simply because it was in 2024.
PredictionThe Reds’ pitching may hold them on this collection, however for a younger workforce with out playoff expertise, it’ll be a tall job to enter Dodger Stadium and take this collection from the World Sequence champs. The Dodgers went 52-29 at dwelling this 12 months, the Reds went 38-43 on the highway, and the Dodgers received 5 of their six video games in opposition to the Reds, together with a sweep in Los Angeles in August. Sure, something can occur in a brief collection, however the Dodgers are the higher workforce and their star energy ought to carry them right here. Ohtani, Betts, Freeman & Co. transfer on.
