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 saw the Dodgers erupt for a 10-5 victory, powered by a barrage of five home runs that left Dodger Stadium buzzing. Teoscar Hernández and Shohei Ohtani each launched two homers, turning what could have been a tense opener into a statement of intent. Blake Snell, making his postseason debut for LA, held the Reds to just two runs over seven strong innings, striking out eight and looking every bit the ace the Dodgers acquired midseason.
Indeed, the momentum carried over. Wednesday's Game 2 ended 8-4, with the Dodgers' offense again proving relentless. Hernández added another homer, while the bullpen, anchored by reliable arms like Blake Treinen, slammed the door despite a late Reds rally. Cincinnati, fighting valiantly with starters Nick Lodolo and Nick Martinez on the mound, couldn't overcome their own inconsistencies—errors and untimely hits plagued them throughout. The Reds, who clawed their way into the playoffs on a late-season surge, now head home empty-handed, their "cockroach" resilience finally stamped out.
Manager Dave Roberts praised his team's focus postgame, noting how Yoshinobu Yamamoto's recent recovery from injury adds depth to the rotation heading into the NLDS. Yamamoto, who didn't pitch in the series but looms large for what's next, embodies the Dodgers' depth that has them favored once more. The Phillies await in a rematch of last year's intensity, but LA's firepower suggests they're primed. Still, playoffs are unpredictable; one wonders if the Dodgers' stars can sustain this edge or if fatigue will creep in.