Dodgers steal Game 1 on the road as Ohtani’s postseason debut as a pitcher hits rough seas in the second inning, yet Teoscar Hernández’s three-run homer and a late two-run double from Kike Hernández flip the script. Philadelphia rallies briefly, but the bullpen—Glasnow, Vesia and Sasaki—shuts the door, giving LA a 5-3 win. With Snell and Yamamoto lined up, the series momentum tilts toward the Dodgers as they chase a title defense.

Ohtani’s two-way legend is still a storyline, but the immediate takeaway is resilience and depth. The Dodgers nailed a road victory that reshapes expectations for the NLDS; if a fifth game is needed, six days’ rest for Ohtani and a curated pitching plan from Friedman and Roberts loom large.

Kershaw joins the NLDS roster for Dodgers, used from the pen as L.A. faces Philadelphia. The veteran lefty finished 2025 with 112 2/3 innings and a 3.36 ERA in 23 appearances, his farewell season shaping a playoff role. The Dodgers line up a playoff rotation featuring Ohtani in Game 1, Snell in 2, Yamamoto in 3 and Glasnow in 4, with Ohtani a potential Game 5 option; Glasnow could also pitch from the bullpen in Game 1 as needed.

Phillies bring Harper and Schwarber left-handed thunder, testing LA’s bullpen depth. Dodgers also shuffled lefty options in the Reds series (Vesia and Dreyer) and closed the regular season with a farewell start against the Diamondbacks, highlighting a franchise chapter as the postseason begins.

Dodgers ride elite pitching and a hot offense into the NLDS, with Ohtani’s postseason pitching debut anchoring the rotation and Yamamoto growing into a trusted big‑game option. Sasaki adds a fresh late‑inning look as Betts heats up, and LA sweeps CIN to set up a Philly test. The bullpen’s late‑inning command remains the hinge, but the collection of stars and depth keeps the title talk loud.