The Los Angeles Dodgers didn't just win—they dominated. In a swift two-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds in the National League Wild Card Series, the Dodgers punched their ticket to the Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Game 1 on Tuesday night was a fireworks display, ending 10-5 in favor of the home team at Dodger Stadium. Blake Snell, making his postseason debut for LA, tossed seven strong innings, surrendering just two runs while the offense erupted for five home runs. Teoscar Hernández and Shohei Ohtani each went deep twice, turning the contest into a rout early and leaving Reds fans stunned.
Wednesday's Game 2 kept the momentum rolling, though not without some tension. The Dodgers pulled ahead 8-4, clinching the series with timely hitting and solid relief work. Nick Lodolo started for Cincinnati, but the Reds' bats couldn't keep pace after an initial push. Indeed, LA's bullpen, anchored by familiar arms like Blake Treinen, shut the door late. Manager Dave Roberts praised his team's resilience postgame, noting how they've navigated injuries all season to arrive here poised for a deep run. The sweep caps a regular season where the Dodgers finished with baseball's best record, but playoffs are another beast entirely.
Player stats from the series highlight the disparity. Ohtani finished 4-for-8 with four RBIs across the two games, while Hernández added three hits and five RBIs of his own. For the Reds, Elly De La Cruz showed flashes but the lineup managed only nine runs total. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, though not pitching in this series, remains a key piece for LA's rotation moving forward—his regular-season dominance (2.92 ERA) underscores the depth that overwhelmed Cincinnati. Nick Martinez and Tony Santillan toiled in relief for the visitors, but it wasn't enough against a Dodgers squad that's won 11 of their last 13.
Where to catch the next action? The NLDS opener against Philly is set for Saturday, broadcast on ESPN and MLB Network, with tickets already in high demand. The Dodgers' path looks clear, yet postseason baseball has a way of humbling favorites.
As the leaves turn and the stakes rise, one wonders how far this battle-tested Dodgers team can go in October.