The Los Angeles Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds will square off in a best-of-three Wild Card series beginning Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Here’s your complete guide: schedule, how to watch, pitchers, lineups, and key storylines.
📺 Reds vs. Dodgers Wild Card: How to Watch & Where to Follow
- TV (U.S.): ESPN
- Streaming (U.S.): via ESPN app or ESPN+ (with TV provider credentials)
- Radio / National Audio: ESPN Radio
- International: Available via MLB.TV (excluding U.S. rights restrictions)
- English / Spanish: ESPN’s broadcasts will also have Spanish coverage on ESPN Deportes
📆 Series Schedule & Format
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Tues, Sept. 30 | 9:08 p.m. ET / 6:08 p.m. PT | Dodger Stadium | ESPN |
| Game 2 | Wed, Oct. 1 | 9:08 p.m. ET / 6:08 p.m. PT | Dodger Stadium | ESPN |
| Game 3* | Thurs, Oct. 2 | TBD | Dodger Stadium | If necessary |
* The series is a best-of-three; Game 3 only if needed.
The Dodgers earned home-field advantage by winning the NL West. Cincinnati clinched the final Wild Card spot on the season’s final day.
⚾ Probable Starting Pitchers
Vote For Your Favorite Dodgers Duo: Ohtani – Yamamoto, Betts – Freeman, Hernandez – Hernandez
Reds
- Game 1: Hunter Greene — 7–4 record, 2.76 ERA. After returning from a groin strain, Greene was solid (3–1, 2.81 ERA) in eight August starts. He struggled in one outing vs. L.A. this year (5 runs in five innings).
Dodgers
- Game 1 (likely): Blake Snell — 5–4, 2.35 ERA. Roberts called it a “pretty good bet” that Snell draws Game 1. He missed time with shoulder trouble but returned strong.
The Dodgers haven’t publicly confirmed all their starters, but the expected rotation for the series includes Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Shohei Ohtani. Tyler Glasnow may be used out of the bullpen or as an alternate arm.
🧢 Likely Lineups
Reds (vs. LHP Snell)
- TJ Friedl, CF
- Noelvi Marte, RF
- Austin Hays, LF
- Miguel Andújar, DH
- Elly De La Cruz, SS
- Spencer Steer, 1B
- Tyler Stephenson, C
- Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B
- Matt McLain, 2B
Dodgers (vs. RHP Greene)
- Shohei Ohtani, DH
- Mookie Betts, SS
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Max Muncy, 3B
- Teoscar Hernández, RF
- Tommy Edman, CF
- Andy Pages, LF
- Miguel Rojas, 2B
- (Catcher) — if Will Smith is unavailable, Los Angeles may carry a backup or use a platoon
🔍 Key Storylines & Context
Dodgers’ Health & Roster Moves
Los Angeles enters the postseason with more health back in the rotation. However, Clayton Kershaw will not be on the Wild Card roster despite starting Sunday. Catcher Will Smith remains sidelined with a hand fracture — his return is uncertain. Many in the Dodgers’ starting rotation and bullpen are being auditioned for October roles during this final series vs. Seattle.
Reds: Underdog Surge
Cincinnati’s emergence has been remarkable — they were under .500 in mid-September, then closed strong to clinch a playoff berth. The team is seeking its first postseason series win since 1995. Despite losing 5 of 6 matchups vs. L.A. this regular season, the Reds hope their young core can disrupt expectations.
Pitching vs. Power
Hunter Greene brings electric heat and a promising postseason profile, though he’s had inconsistency. Blake Snell provides veteran presence and strong postseason experience. For Cincinnati, depth in bullpen arms like Emilio Pagán, Tony Santillan, and Graham Ashcraft will be crucial in middle innings. For the Dodgers, bullpen questions persist: veterans like Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen have been unreliable, which may force Roberts to lean on younger arms like Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan, Alex Vesia, and Edgardo Henriquez.
Momentum & Matchups
The Dodgers have the luxury of rest and home-field comfort. But they cannot overlook Cincinnati — the Reds matchup well in small sample power numbers and have nothing to lose. The Dodgers must use their offensive depth (Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Muncy, Pages) to pressure the Reds early, forcing the underdog starter and relievers to make mistakes.
🏁 Final Thoughts
This series is poised to be both a test and a statement. The Dodgers are favored in nearly every metric — talent, experience, depth — but in the postseason, anything can happen. For Cincinnati, this is a chance to break through. For Los Angeles, it’s a crucial step toward defending their title and keeping the October window open.