Dodgers swept Cincinnati, with Yamamoto shinning in Game 2 and Nick Martinez stepping in after Lodolo’s 14-pitch outing. Abbott would have started Game 3 if the Reds had forced one, but Cincinnati couldn’t capitalize with the bases loaded in the sixth. The Reds’ postseason record since 1995 sits at 2-15 in this matchup, underscoring the pressure on next-year projections. For fantasy managers, the tiny workload of Lodolo and the planned depth for Abbott in a short series raise questions about starter stamina, bullpen leverage, and where to target upside in potential rematches.

The takeaway for fantasy: short-series dynamics favor efficient starters and late-inning bullpen bets. Dodgers’ depth and Yamamoto’s efficiency boost their playoff ceiling, while Reds’ lack of a long leash for Lodolo or Abbott creates volatility around Reds’ rotation bets in future postseason runs.