The Los Angeles Dodgers punched their ticket to the National League Division Series on Tuesday night, dispatching the Cincinnati Reds 10-5 in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series. Blake Snell delivered a strong postseason debut for the Dodgers, scattering just two runs over seven innings, while the offense exploded for five home runs, including two from Teoscar Hernández and Shohei Ohtani. It was a clinical performance that sends the defending World Series champions straight into a rematch with the Philadelphia Phillies, who earned a first-round bye after clinching the NL East.
Indeed, this NLDS feels like destiny—or maybe just the league's way of recycling last year's drama. The Phillies, sitting at 95-67, will host the Dodgers starting Saturday, October 4, at Citizens Bank Park. Game 1 kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET on TBS, with probable starters yet to be fully locked in, though Ranger Suárez looms large for Philly's opener. The series, best-of-five, shifts to Dodger Stadium for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 7 and 8, with a potential Game 5 back in Los Angeles on Friday, October 10. Tickets are already flying off the shelves, especially in Philly, where fans are buzzing about another October run.
Yesterday's MLB slate wrapped with the Dodgers' victory, but today's quiet— no major games until the AL side heats up. The Phillies, meanwhile, have been resting since clinching, their last regular-season win a 4-2 nod over the Nationals on September 28. For the Dodgers, it's been all about momentum: they thumped the Reds after a 5-3 Game 1 win, showcasing that star power that won them the title last fall. However, injuries linger—Ohtani's still easing back—and the Phillies' rotation, led by Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, could exploit any cracks.
Key Matchup Insight: This isn't just baseball; it's a clash of titans, with Philly's gritty lineup facing L.A.'s firepower. The Dodgers enter as slight favorites, but the Phillies' home-field edge might just flip the script.
Moreover, with both teams boasting World Series pedigrees, expect high stakes from the jump. As the series unfolds, one can't help but wonder if this postseason will finally crown a new champion or let the Dodgers defend their throne.