Will Smith’s hand injury update reshapes the Dodgers’ NLDS outlook. He’s near 100 percent and eager to return, a relief after the hairline fracture sidelined him for the postseason so far. His .296/.??/.?? line with 17 homers and 61 RBI in 110 games underscores the upside his bat brings when healthy. LA will ease him back, leaning on Ben Rortvedt to start Game 1 as Smith rebuilds rhythm behind the plate.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is balancing urgency with caution, aiming for a smart ramp that preserves shoulder and hand while still pushing for wins. Rortvedt’s hot bat (.500 in the Wild Card) provides a ready-made spark, giving the club a strong fallback as Smith works his way back into full catching duties and the lineup looks to finish strong in October.

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.

Kiké Hernández anchors the Dodgers as October baseball arrives, heightening the sense of playoffs even before the NLDS. He delivered two hits, scored twice, and drove in a run in the wild-card win, underscoring a postseason pedigree that dwarfs a middling regular season. Los Angeles advances to face the Phillies, with Hernández’s October legend growing alongside a team that trusts him in big moments.

The bottom third of the lineup—Hernández, Miguel Rojas, and Ben Rortvedt—played a pivotal role, going 6-for-12 with five runs and two RBIs. A fourth-inning double tied the game, and a subsequent rally pushed the Dodgers ahead for good. Hernández capped the night with an early squibber that sparked a four-run burst, a reminder that in October, he is not just a contributor but a catalyst for momentum and redemption.

Hernández’s postseason arc is the story: 88 playoff games with a .286 average, two World Series rings, and a reputation for rising when the stakes are highest. Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts called him one of the best in postseason history, and Teoscar Hernández echoed that October identity. The vibe around the Dodgers is clear: this is Hernández’s moment to extend a career built on clutch performances and continued postseason relevance against the Phillies.