2025 NL Wild Card Preview: Reds vs. Dodgers

Los Angeles’ offense was incredible yet again in 2025.

Shohei Ohtani hit 55 home runs and will likely win yet another NL MVP. Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez combined for 49 home runs. And Mookie Betts, who scuffled at points in 2025, slashed .294/.351/.478 (.828 OPS) with nine home runs and 18 extra-base hits over the final two months.

Ten Dodgers hitters had at least double-digits in home runs this season. And with all that depth, it creates a minefield for opposing pitchers to deal with.

The Dodgers’ postseason roster includes three catchers, including Will Smith. Smith was on the IL with a hairline hand fracture,

As for who’s not on the roster, Michael Conforto was not on it. Conforto hit slightly better in the second half, slashing .223/.315/.350 (.665 OPS) after the All-Star break. Nonetheless, this was easily the worst statistical year of his Major League career.

The Reds, on the other hand, did not have an above-average offensive season on paper. While the Dodgers finished second in home runs, the Reds finished 21st. Cincinnati’s offense ranked 19th in OPS, compared to the Dodgers finishing second overall.

It’s been a complicated year for the Reds. Elly De La Cruz, the engine of the offense, slipped down the order over the final few weeks. The young shortstop slashed .221/.280/.341 (.621 OPS) over the final two months.

Cincinnati was able to manufacture runs thanks to some unheralded names like Austin Hays and Miguel Andujar. Noelvi Marte and Spencer Steer also came through in a big way over the final few weeks. Marte and Steer combined for 16 home runs over the final two months.

A Look at the Pitching

When the Dodgers won the World Series last year, Los Angeles leaned heavily on their bullpen to fill the holes for what was an injury-depleted rotation. This year, it’s the rotation that has the significant edge for the Dodgers.

Los Angeles’ rotation for the Wild Card round includes Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for Games 1 and 2. Yamamoto posted a 2.20 ERA over the final two months, good for eighth in the Majors (min. 35 IP). Blake Snell was 12th (2.41 ERA), while Emmet Sheehan — also on the roster — was 13th (2.42).

Both Snell and Yamamoto also ranked in the top 15 in HR/9.

Shohei Ohtani appears to be the Game 3 starter (if necessary), even though that’s not official as of yet.

As noted when the Dodgers clinched earlier in the month, their bullpen has not been a strength. It’s a stark contrast from 2024, when the Dodgers were able to stack arm after arm. However, Sheehan, along with Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki, is on the Wild Card roster and available.

The Reds, meanwhile, were able to manufacture wins thanks in large part to terrific starting pitching and a bullpen that held together.

Hunter Greene, the California kid and hard-throwing ace of the Reds, will get the ball in Game 1. Greene faced the Dodgers once this year, and LA didn’t do too badly against him. He gave up two home runs and three earned runs over five innings.

Zack Littell, acquired midseason from the Rays and a heavy fly-ball pitcher, gets the Game 2 start. Andrew Abbott, who started on the penultimate day of the 2025 season, will get the Game 3 start if necessary.

Brady Singer, who pitched on the final day of the regular season, is not on the roster. Nick Lodolo, who came out of the bullpen that day, is on the Wild Card roster.

As for the Reds’ bullpen, it’s been a net positive. Between the funkiness of Brent Suter, the hard-throwing Chase Burns, and the likes of Graham Ashcraft, Tony Santillan, Nick Martinez, and Emilio Pagan, that troupe offers a lot of different looks.

Our Prediction

On paper, this matchup is heavily tilted towards the Dodgers. Los Angeles has the better offense and the better overall pitching staff.

That doesn’t mean it’ll play out that way. Hunter Greene has the ability to steal a game, which can change the course of the series.

But, we’ll go with the Dodgers.