Los Angeles matched the moment with a balanced attack, beating Cincinnati 8-4 in the NL Wild Card and moving on to face Philadelphia in the NLDS. Betts sparked the offense with an early RBI, Kiké Hernández and Miguel Rojas kept the late momentum, and Teoscar Hernández capped a pivotal 6th inning with a two-run double. Cincinnati pressed back with Sal Stewart driving in three, but a key eighth-inning threat fizzled when T.J. Friedl struck out with the bases loaded.

Roki Sasaki closed it out with a clean ninth, and LA’s depth showed again as they advanced. For fantasy bettors, the Dodgers’ lineup is still the primary source for run production, while Reds’ opportunistic moments from Stewart offer occasional value in shorter playoff windows. The Dodgers now prepare for a high-stakes series against the Phillies.

Los Angeles Dodgers opened the NL Wild Card with a 10-5 demolition of Cincinnati, driving five homers as Blake Snell dominated through seven innings and racked up nine strikeouts. Ohtani and Hernández provided multi-homer punch, lifting the offense early and giving the bullpen a cushion—until the late innings exposed a fragile relief corps in a must-win setting.

Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene took the loss in his postseason debut, surrendering three homers and exiting after three. Dodgers’ bullpen usage underscored the playoff reality: depth arms matter in a short series, while the Dodgers’ offense and Snell’s form offer a blueprint for a title chase, even as the Reds try to rebound in Games 2 and 3.

The Reds arrive at Dodger Stadium with playoff intensity on full display after a 10-5 setback, but their fight remains intact. Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz sparked Cincinnati’s bats, and Tyler Stephenson pressed the pace with a long at-bat that nearly flipped the eighth inning. Cincinnati reiterates they’re not backing down, chasing a must-win Game 2 while leaning on cockroach-like resilience and trusted bullpen depth against a star-studded Dodgers lineup.

Dodgers exploded for five homers, with Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez each launching twice to fuel an 8-0 lead and a 10-5 win in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series. Reds starter Hunter Greene lasted only three innings, while Cincinnati staged a late charge thanks to Elly De La Cruz’s fielder’s-choice RBI and Tyler Stephenson’s RBI double, but couldn’t close the gap. Game 2 is tonight as LA aims to seize the series edge.