Harrison Bader's groin injury creates an outfield rotation headache for the Phillies as they chase the Dodgers in a tense NLDS. With no major tear reported, Philadelphia wrestles with a day-to-day prognosis while considering how to align the lineup if Bader sits Game 2.

If Bader is unavailable, Castellanos likely starts in right, Marsh slides to center, and Wilson or Kepler fills left. Rojas, Crawford, and Mercado sit outside the roster, leaving Mercado as a potential late call-up. The Phillies push to keep the series within reach while monitoring Bader’s status for a potential return.

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.

Shohei Ohtani delivered a postseason gem, six innings, nine strikeouts and three runs on 89 pitches in NLDS Game 1, tightening after a second‑inning jam with a sharper splitter that kept the Phillies in check. Teoscar Hernández answered a misplay with a go‑ahead three‑run homer in the seventh, and the Dodgers leaned on a deep lineup around Freddie Freeman to seize control.

The performance reinforces Ohtani’s fantasy upside—elite K-rate, solid inning count and occasional at‑bat value when he DHs—while the Dodgers’ depth and a patient, righty‑heavy Phillies staff shape the rest of the series. Ohtani’s track record and rehab arc add a compelling weekly floor for fantasy players.

Dodgers bring Clayton Kershaw back to their NLDS roster against the Phillies, adding a veteran lefty to the bullpen for a potential final postseason run. The move follows a wildcard round where the Dodgers leaned on younger arms and needed more stability from the relief corps. Kershaw, 11-2 with a 3.36 ERA this season, is expected to pitch out of the bullpen in this series, pairing with Anthony Banda to counter Philadelphia’s left-handed hitters.

Key supporting pieces remain in flux: Will Smith might catch despite a fractured hand, while Edgardo Henriquez and Justin Wrobleski were swapped out of the roster. The Dodgers face a Phillies lineup featuring Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Brandon Marsh, and Bryson Stott, all lefty threats. Dodgers fans will be watching whether Kershaw’s postseason pedigree translates into a pivotal series win or if this could be his farewell march.

Beyond Kershaw, the Dodgers lean on depth and experience, hoping the veteran presence steadies a pitching staff that struggled at times in the wild-card round. The Phillies’ mix of power and contact hitters will test a rotation that needs to fire on all cylinders to advance.