Dodgers ride a big NL wild-card win into the NLDS, opening with Shohei Ohtani on the hill against Cristopher Sánchez at Citizens Bank Park. Ohtani’s two-way dominance sets the tone as Los Angeles leans on a tweaked lineup and depth to outlast Philadelphia’s ace in a pivotal road start.

Lineup shuffles put Tommy Edman at second, Kiké Hernández at third, Alex Call in left, Andy Pages in center, and Ben Rortvedt catching, with Will Smith on the roster but not yet cleared. The bench—Dalton Rushing, Hyeseong Kim, James Dean—gives Roberts options as the series unfolds.

Reds were swept in the wild-card, turning attention to a tougher test against the Phillies. The Ohtani-Sánchez duel, top-heavy Dodgers offense, and backups ready to contribute shape a high-leverage NLDS that could hinge on Game 1’s early momentum.

Will Smith returns from a fractured hand and sits on the Dodgers' wild-card roster with uncertain Game 1 duties. If Smith can’t go, Ben Rortvedt would start behind the plate, giving LA a trusted backup catcher and pinch-hitting option. Michael Conforto is omitted from the playoff roster, while Alex Call and Justin Dean earn bench roles. Hyeseong Kim adds speed, Shohei Ohtani remains a two-way factor, and Roki Sasaki returns in relief. The bullpen centers on Glasnow, Treinen, Scott and other lefty options, with Kershaw left off this round.

The Dodgers emphasize depth and flexibility in a short series, balancing injury comebacks, bench speed, and bullpen versatility. Rotational plans stay conservative unless they advance, while post-season feel and matchup nuance shape lineup choices and late-inning strategy, offering dynamic fantasy leverage across hitters and relievers.

Kiké Hernández delivered a clutch ninth-inning two-run double that flipped the script, lifting the Dodgers to a 5-3 win over Seattle as LA piled up 15 strikeouts and closed with a clean ninth. Dalton Rushing extended the lead with a fifth-inning homer, while Seattle’s Jorge Polanco answered back with a three-run shot. Edgardo Henríquez notched the save as LA stretched its win streak to five and kept a tight hold on head-to-head momentum over the Mariners.