Teoscar Hernández’s seventh-inning three-run homer flipped Game 1 of the Dodgers-Phillies NLDS, delivering a late edge as Ohtani battled a tough night at the plate yet still piled up nine strikeouts in six frames. The bullpen locked it down, with Roki Sasaki closing it out for the save. Dodgers momentum heading to Philadelphia sets the stage for a series where Hernández’s power and Ohtani’s playoff resilience shape fantasy and betting angles.

Fantasy managers should watch Hernández’s clutch power in high-leverage spots, Ohtani’s mixed plate results with elite strikeout outcomes, and the Dodgers’ bullpen depth after this opener. Philadelphia’s lineup must adapt to Ohtani’s efficiency and the late surge from Los Angeles, especially if Sasaki remains a back-half weapon. Series momentum is now firmly with LAD.

Two heavyweight NL powers collide as the Dodgers defend their title against a Phillies club determined to end postseason heartbreak. Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Snell anchor Los Angeles’ rotation, while Philadelphia navigates Wheeler’s injury and leans on Sanchez, Suarez, Luzardo, and Nola to carry the load. The series centers on tempo: Phillies must extend at-bats and blunt LA’s starters, while the Dodgers look to turn their bullpen into a stabilizing force in tight late innings.

Key strategic edges: the Phillies’ grind-it-out approach to force longer at-bats to fatigue the Dodgers’ rotation, and the Dodgers’ bullpen reliability in high-leverage moments. The outcome will hinge on how well each team executes game plans once the starters exit and how bullpen missteps are avoided or exploited. Saturday’s start looms as a marquee showdown.

Dodgers and Phillies meet in the NLDS after LA’s red-hot run and Philly’s potent offense. Shohei Ohtani will make his playoff pitching debut for the Dodgers in Game 1, with critics calling for total dominance after his October ramp-up. Veterans like Mookie Betts and Kyle Schwarber anchor two lineups expected to be fueled by late-season form, while analysts pick the winner as the NL’s best, underscoring a tantalizing, edge-by-edge series.

Inside the chatter, the Phillies’ depth and stars Adler Bryce Harper and Turner pace the offense, against a Dodgers squad riding Ohtani’s two-way power and a rested rotation. The path to victory hinges on pitching depth and explosive moments from the big boppers, making this a long, strategic clash worthy of postseason lore.