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.

Cincinnati is sprinting toward the postseason with a flurry of final roster decisions as they prepare for a short Wild Card series against Los Angeles. In the season finale, Austin Hays returned to the lineup and Nick Lodolo appeared in relief, signaling potential postseason roles despite back spasms and a groin scare. Manager Terry Francona has roughly 36 hours to lock in lineups and a rotation, with Hunter Greene lined up to start Game One if he’s ready.

Across town, the Dodgers laid out a potent Wild Card rotation—Blake Snell in Game One, Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game Two, and Shohei Ohtani if a decisive Game Three is needed—posing a stern test for Cincinnati’s depth. The Reds must map their own path, balancing health and usage in a compressed playoff sprint while Greene anchors the start.