The Cincinnati Reds needed every inning of the regular season to punch their postseason ticket, and now they’ll open the National League Wild Card Series against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.
For the Reds, the journey was frantic and full of drama. Cincinnati clinched its first playoff berth since 2020 on Sunday, grabbing the National League’s final wild card spot thanks to their head-to-head edge over the New York Mets and a Mets loss to the Miami Marlins. It marked the first time the Reds have clinched a berth on the season’s final day.
Pitching Matchup
Cincinnati turns to 25-year-old right-hander Hunter Greene (7-4), making his postseason debut in front of his hometown crowd. Greene grew up in Los Angeles, attended World Series games at Dodger Stadium as a fan, and now finds himself facing the team he once rooted for. Family and friends, including his father and childhood coach Russell Greene, will be in attendance as he tries to outduel one of baseball’s premier pitchers.
The Dodgers counter with Blake Snell (5-4), a two-time Cy Young Award winner who brings plenty of playoff experience to the mound. Los Angeles, despite its dominance over the Reds this year—winning five of six matchups and outscoring them 30-15—knows the postseason can turn in unexpected ways.
Dodgers’ October Edge
Manager Dave Roberts has guided the Dodgers to October in each of his 10 seasons, racking up 56 postseason victories and two championships (2020 and 2024). This year’s Dodgers (93-69) captured their 12th NL West crown in 13 years but enter the Wild Card round for the first time since 2021.
The star power is undeniable. Shohei Ohtani, fresh off a career-best 55-homer season, is expected to pitch in Game 3 if the series reaches that point—his first postseason appearance on the mound. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA) will take the ball in Game 2, setting up a daunting trio for any opponent. Ohtani, meanwhile, enters hot at the plate after hitting .312 with 10 homers and a 1.165 OPS in September.
Reds’ Rotation Plan
Behind Greene, the Reds will start Zack Littell (10-8) in Game 2, with lefty Andrew Abbott (10-7) lined up for a possible Game 3. Nick Lodolo is expected to bolster the bullpen in a do-or-die situation. While Cincinnati’s staff lacks the star pedigree of the Dodgers, manager Terry Francona—no stranger to October baseball—brings valuable experience. Francona owns 44 postseason wins and two World Series titles, ranking him among the most accomplished managers in playoff history.
What’s at Stake
This is just the second time the Reds and Dodgers have met in the postseason. The first came in the 1995 NL Division Series, when Cincinnati swept Los Angeles in three games.
The winner of this best-of-three series will advance to face the top-seeded Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Division Series.
For the Reds, the challenge is steep: beat the defending champions in a ballpark where they’ve struggled, against a rotation anchored by stars. But with youthful momentum, a hometown ace in Greene, and Francona’s October pedigree, Cincinnati enters with nothing to lose.
For the Dodgers, the mission is clear—defend their crown and prove again why they’ve been the National League’s standard for more than a decade.
Game 1 in Los Angeles promises the intrigue of a Cinderella story facing baseball’s reigning dynasty.
