The Los Angeles Dodgers begin their defense of the World Series title on Tuesday in Game 1 of the 2025 NL Wild Card series against the Cincinnati Reds.
It isn’t the postseason start many expected for baseball’s supposed superteam. Los Angeles finished with the fifth-best record in the majors and edged the San Diego Padres by just three games to claim the NL West.
A midseason slump nearly derailed them — the Dodgers went 10–14 in July and barely cleared .500 in August — but they regained form in September, posting a .600 winning percentage.
The final stretch included a sweep of the Seattle Mariners, though setbacks came too, including a sweep by the Pittsburgh Pirates and series losses to the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies. That Phillies matchup, in particular, raised doubts about whether L.A. can withstand the NL’s most dangerous offense. Philadelphia, not Los Angeles, may be the team to beat in the NL.
Against the Reds, however, the Dodgers should feel confident. They went 5–1 against Cincinnati this year. Still, six of the seven meetings were decided by three runs or fewer, with an average margin of 2.8 runs. The lone blowout, a 7–0 Dodgers win on August 25, came against Reds ace Hunter Greene, who allowed five runs (three earned) in five innings — his only start against L.A.
Greene draws the Game 1 assignment after an otherwise excellent season, going 7–4 with a 2.76 ERA despite missing much of the summer with a groin strain. He even carried a no-hit bid into the late innings of a September start, demonstrating how dangerous he can be.
But the Dodgers bring a starting rotation that is even more formidable and an offense that ranks among the league’s best in every category. That firepower may make the difference as the Reds fall in the bottom half of the league in runs scored, batting average, and home runs.
The Dodgers’ bullpen has been a liability down the stretch. Tanner Scott has blown ten saves this season.
But in a short series, L.A. can lean on its deep rotation to cover innings. Tyler Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan, and Roki Sasaki will work in relief, while Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto anchor a formidable starting trio for the Wild Card round.
Dodgers vs. Reds: 2025 Wild Card Series Schedule & Tickets
Game 1: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Time: 9:08 PM Eastern / 6:05 PM Pacific | Venue: Dodger Stadium, LA | TV: ESPN | Tickets
Probable Pitchers: Hunter Greene (Reds) vs. TBD (Dodgers)
Game 2: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Time: 9:08 PM Eastern / 6:05 PM Pacific | Venue: Dodger Stadium, LA | TV: ESPN | Tickets
Probable Pitchers: TBD (Reds) vs. TBD (Dodgers)
Game 3 *: Thursday, October 2, 2025
Time: 9:08 PM Eastern / 6:05 PM Pacific | Venue: Dodger Stadium, LA | TV: ESPN | Tickets
Probable Pitchers: TBD (Reds) vs. TBD (Dodgers)
*(if necessary)
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