The Dodgers’ bullpen hiccup in the wild-card round exposed a shaky bridge to October, but 23-year-old Roki Sasaki flashed elite relief upside. His triple-digit fastball and hammer splitter dominated hitters in a 1-2-3 ninth, marking a potential late-game difference-maker as Los Angeles advances on the back of a pair of wins over Cincinnati. With the rest of the bullpen scuffling—Vesia, Henriquez and Dreyer missing the zone in key moments—Sasaki’s quick rise has given the roster a credible high-leverage option, while Treinen steadies the ship in the short term.

Sasaki’s journey from hype to bullpen ace is the focal point: a former top prospect who found his footing post-IL, revamped his plan, and now looks ready for pivotal late-inning duties. The rest of LA’s relief corps remains under scrutiny ahead of the NLDS against Philadelphia, forcing starters to hand over bigger cushions. Dodgers fans and fantasy managers alike will be watching closely how Sasaki and Treinen shoulder the late-inning load as LA chases a championship.

Dodgers push past Cincinnati and gear up for a best-of-five NLDS against Philadelphia, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto stifling the Reds and Mookie Betts driving the offense. Philly counters with Harper and Schwarber, a rested rotation, and late-season upgrades like Harrison Bader and Jhoan Duran. The series hinges on LA’s depth vs. PHI’s October pedigree and a raucous Citizens Bank Park crowd. The countdown to October warfare begins now.

The Reds aim to salvage the series in Cincinnati as Nick Lodolo faces Braxton Ashcraft in a key afternoon tilt. Cincinnati’s lineup features Elly De La Cruz, Gavin Lux, Will Benson and Miguel Andujar, while Pittsburgh counters with Jared Triolo, Nick Gonzales, Noelvi Marte and Bryan Reynolds. A win could tilt NL playoff odds depending on Mets and Diamondbacks outcomes later in the day.

Fantasy angle: Lodolo’s matchup is a prime streaming spot if he’s sharp with location and command, and Reds bats will be watched closely to see if they finally break out. Pirates’ power threats and veteran anchors could push this one into a high-leverage, keeper-league-friendly affair.