Dodgers stave off a Phillies rally in a 4-3 thriller to take a 2-0 NLDS lead, with Blake Snell delivering a dominant start and timely hitting backing a crucial ninth-inning wheel play. On a 4-1 cushion, Philadelphia staged a mini-rally that hinged on Bryson Stott bunting toward third, only for Max Muncy and Mookie Betts to execute the flawless wheel alignment, halting the lead run and shifting the momentum in L.A.'s favor.

Dodgers hold steady as Blake Snell dominates to six scoreless innings, fanning nine, while Freddie Freeman sparkles with a game-saving defensive play and a late run-propelling moment. Ohtani’s RBI single and Will Smith’s two-run single fuel a pivotal seventh that steadies a 4-3 lead. Castellanos’s ninth-inning two-run double keeps Philadelphia alive, but the Dodgers’ bullpen and Yamamoto’s Game 3 assignment preserve a 2-0 series edge.

Dodgers edge Phillies in Game 1 as Ohtani silences a powerhouse lineup while Snell stares down Philadelphia's bats. Turner, Schwarber and Harper went without a hit, leaving LA momentum in the spotlight for Game 2 at Citizens Bank Park. Philly must regroup offensively and lean on Wheeler to flip the series, but Ohtani’s two-way threat and LA’s pitching depth loom large going forward.

Philly’s blueprint for a championship is all-in: Middleton and Dombrowski have built a payroll juggernaut, signing Harper, Turner, Schwarber, Castellanos and Wheeler, and bolstering the roster at the deadline with Duran, Bader and Robertson. The approach blends massive spending with a deep farm and top-tier facilities, all aimed at delivering Philadelphia its first World Series since 2008. The mantra: money is a tool to win, and the target is a parade in the near future.