In a display of postseason dominance, the Los Angeles Dodgers dispatched the Cincinnati Reds in their National League Wild Card series, winning both games at Dodger Stadium to advance to the Division Series. Game 1 set the tone on Tuesday night, with Blake Snell delivering a masterful performance in his Dodgers debut, tossing seven innings and allowing just two runs while striking out eight. The offense exploded behind him, pounding out five home runs—including two each from Teoscar Hernández and Shohei Ohtani—in a 10-5 victory that left the Reds reeling from the start.
Indeed, the momentum carried over to Wednesday's Game 2, where Zack Littell took the mound for Cincinnati, facing a Dodgers lineup that seemed unstoppable. Littell, making his first playoff start since his Tampa Bay days, struggled early, surrendering three runs in the first two innings as Los Angeles built an insurmountable lead. The Dodgers tacked on more, winning 8-4 to clinch the sweep. Austin Hays, the veteran outfielder acquired midseason to bolster the bench, contributed with a key RBI single in the fourth, underscoring his value in these high-stakes moments despite a quiet overall series.
However, the Reds showed flashes of fight, particularly in Game 1 when they clawed back with a couple of late homers. Littell's effort, though ultimately futile, highlighted Cincinnati's youth movement—pitchers like him represent the promise, even if the results fell short against LA's firepower. Pre-series predictions had favored the Dodgers heavily, given their star-studded roster and home-field edge, but few anticipated such a lopsided outcome. Snell's command, after a rocky regular season adjustment, proved pivotal, silencing doubters who questioned his fit in the rotation.
Moreover, the sweep raises questions about the Reds' immediate future; their spirited regular-season surge now feels like a distant memory. For the Dodgers, it's on to Philadelphia in the NLDS, where deeper challenges await. One can't help but wonder if this early efficiency signals another deep run, or merely a deceptive calm before the storm.