2025 World Series Game 7 Thread: Nov 1 @ Blue Jays, 5p

Shohei Ohtani vs. Max Scherzer.

Here we are, at the final game of the 2025 MLB season, on the first day of November.

Part of my process is to try and look at each game objectively beforehand. And when I look at this one, it doesn't seem like we've got much of a shot (despite fangraphs giving us a slight edge, 57.1%). Here's how I'm seeing it, in the hours before this game:

• Max Scherzer is going to be fired up. Not only does Scherzer have experience starting a World Series Game 7 (Nationals vs. Houston, 2019, in which he went five innings of seven-hit, 2 ER ball in a game the Nationals eventually won), but he also was pretty effective against the Dodgers in 2025 WS Game 3, going 4.1 IP and giving up 3 ER and getting 3 Ks in a game that was decided well after his contributions. In WS Game 3, Will Smith struck out to strand Ohtani in the first; Tommy Edman and Kiké Hernandez struck out after Teoscar Hernandez' solo shot in the second; and the third ER came when Ohtani hit a RBI double off of Mason Fluharty (who relieved Scherzer). Scherzer won't exit this game early. And I'm sure he will be on.
• We still aren't batting very well. Don't let yesterday's win fool you. We finally strung some hits together in the third inning of Game 6, but that was it for us that game; 2-for-6 with RISP, and only four hits with 12 Ks. The 12 Ks in yesterday's Game 6 continues a pretty concerning trend: 15 Ks in Game 5; 13 Ks in the marathon Game 3; 13 Ks in Game 1. So in four of the six World Series games, we are up there flailing, evidenced most clearly by albatrosses Teoscar Hernandez and Max Muncy (10 Ks each this World Series).
• Our defense has been atrocious. Teoscar Hernandez has already cost us runs on the basepaths this postseason as well as runs in the outfield off of horrible routes and stupid dives. Max Muncy had a misplay early in Game 6 around which Yoshinobu Yamamoto was able to work, but how can we count on those strokes of luck? And in Game 5, the missed double play opportunities rattled Blake Snell and curtailed his outing.
• We have no choices in the bullpen. I get it, all hands on deck and everything, and we'll probably see Tyler Glasnow tonight (after hurling only three pitches yesterday), not to mention possibly Blake Snell. But who else are we going to use in this pen? Roki Sasaki was shaky last night. Wrobleski is a tightrope. And if Blake Treinen enters the game, it's an automatic loss. Dave Roberts has made some deft bullpen choices this entire postseason, but I think he's out of options at this stage.
• Not to mention, we haven't gotten to the Toronto bullpen, which was supposed to be a weakness. After getting Kevin Gausman out yesterday, I thought we might tack on some insurance runs, especially against relievers we've seen before. But Mason Fluharty, Louis Varland, Seranthony Dominguez, and Chris Bassitt all shut us down.
• Rogers Centre is going to rock. The Toronto crowd has brought it all series--abating only in the split second that allowed Kiké Hernandez to hear Andres Gimenez' broken bat and realize he had the chance for a game-ending double play last night!--and it will be the most hostile (albeit polite) crowd the Dodgers have faced all year.

On the other hand...

What if Mookie's breakout yesterday works not just for him, but for the rest of this morobund lineup?

What if we get some heroic relief performances like we saw from Justin Wrobleski yesterday?

What if steady veterans like Miguel Rojas get into the starting lineup for the first time, and continue to play spectacular defense thet solidifies the infield?

What if unsung, late-season additions like Will Klein and Justin Dean suddenly hit the big stage...and totally impress with their brains and talent?

It's baseball. Strange things happen. Like this:

Or this:

Or even, this:

Crazy things happen in baseball, which is why even the best teams only win 60% of the time.

And maybe there is something to Mookie Betts' post-game prediction that Shohei Ohtani's story arc seems to have a flair for the dramatic, where he rises to the occasion.

I don't think Ohtani can do it alone, though. And Yamamoto can't save the team this time, so it is going to depend upon someone else.

The Dodgers have had a lot of lucky bounces and breaks this World Series. Let's see if we have one more in us.

2025 World Series Game 5 Thread: Oct 29 vs. Blue Jays, 5p

Blake Snell vs. Trey Yesavage.

In last night's debacle, the Dodgers looked listless at the plate, possibly exhausted from the 18-inning affair the night before. But it would be too easy to say the Dodgers were just tired, since the Blue Jays also would have been just as tired (save a couple of Blue Jays who were removed for pinch runners early in Game 3).

The fact is, the Blue Jays' lineup--with five players batting .300 or better this postseason--is still coming to hit and get on base. And the Dodgers' lineup has exactly zero players batting .300 or better this postseason.

And that's a problem that one night's lack of sleep can't explain away.

We either get that together tonight, or we are doomed. We've got Blake Snell poised to be outdueled by rookie Trey Yesavage again, just as he was in Game 1.

I'm not feeling it.

LET'S GO, DODGERS!!!

2025 World Series Game 4 Thread: Oct 28 vs. Blue Jays, 5p

Shohei Ohtani vs. Shane Bieber.

How do you reward a guy who just hit two home runs and four extra base hits, and reached base a record nine times in a marathon World Series Game 3?

Send him to the mound to start the next game 17 hours later, of course!

I don't know how Shohei Ohtani is possibly going to do this, but he's starting Game 4 tonight. I don't know how the bullpen is possibly going to do it, either, after throwing 227 pitches (on top of starter Tyler Glasnow's 85 pitches) to keep the Blue Jays off the board for 13.1 innings yesterday.

All I know is, the Dodgers offense simply has to step up more than what it has to date this World Series. No more stupid infield fly outs, or swinging at the first pitches of an at bat. And remember, a lot of the Blue Jays starters left Game 3 early to go relax and recover, unlike many of our starters.

Game 4 is a must-win if we want to stop this series from returning to Toronto. Let's take care of business, bats!

LET'S GO, DODGERS!

2025 World Series Game 3 Thread: Oct 27 vs. Blue Jays, 5p

Tyler Glasnow vs. Max Scherzer.

One starter has long flowing locks of hair; the other guy has two goofy heterochromatic eyes.

One starter made his last start at Dodger Stadium (5.2 IP of 3 H, 1 ER, 8 K ball against the Brewers; coming off a gutty 6.0 IP of 2 H, 0 ER, 8 K ball clinching against the Phillies in the NLDS).

The other guy did not make his last scheduled Dodger start. (To be fair to Scherzer, his K of the Giants' Wilmer Flores in the 2021 NLDS was pretty sweet.)

With the series tied, this Game 3 is pretty pivotal. The Dodgers' bats, particularly the big three, still haven't come to life this series; and there's a lot of talk about whether to bench Andy Pages and his .093 average (Pages also does not have a walk in 47 2025 postseason plate appearances...or 67 postseason plate appearances including last season. He had 29 walks in 624 plate appearances (almost 5%) in the regular season.).

And given Glasnow has not gone long in any of his postseason starts, it's going to be up to the Dodgers bullpen at some point, which is terrifying.

I'm going to tonight's Game 3. I feel really lucky...and extremely nervous!

LET'S GO, DODGERS!

2025 World Series Game 2 Thread: Oct 25 @ Blue Jays, 5p

Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Kevin Gausman.

Well, last night was pretty much a beatdown. Dodgers starter Blake Snell didn't have anywhere near the stuff he's had for this postseason; the Banda brothers in the bullpen kept serving up meatballs, and the offense missed plenty of chances to put this away early, thanks in part to untimely early-count swinging that got Toronto's pen off the hook multiple times.

And Andy Pages is batting .077 this postseason, adding two Ks last night in an 0-for-4 contribution.

All the pundits said our NLDS vs. Philadelphia was the toughest matchup of the postseason. So was the 2024 NLDS against the Padres--the difference being that we had to claw our way past the Mets as well in the 2024 NLCS, whereas we breezed past the Brewers this year.

So Game 1 was a good reminder that this 2025 World Series isn't going to be easy--just like last year.

Let's sack up and steal one on the road tonight, Yoshi!

LET'S GO, DODGERS!

2025 World Series Game 1 Thread: Oct 24 @ Blue Jays, 5p

Hey look, a cursive logo! How retro!

Blake Snell vs. Trey Yesavage.

The long break for the Dodgers gave the opportunity for the media to trial balloon a ton of different narratives for the 2025 World Series.

Shohei Ohtani, as the one who got away from Toronto (and now, the Blue Jays (in jest) want him to return the gifts it gave him during the interview process). Mookie Betts, emerging in the World Series one year later, as a Gold Glove Finalist at a brand new position. The Dodgers as MLB's villain, the new evil empire who is ruining baseball.

But the narrative I see tonight is one of redemption, which could craft new chapters for two Dodgers looking to change their stories.

For Blake Snell, tonight's start will make his first appearance in the World Series since his fateful and early exit from the 2020 World Series Game 6. With only 73 pitches and two hits through 5.1 IP, Rays manager Kevin Cash pulled Snell rather than have him face the Dodgers' lineup a third time (which was, statistically, a difficulty for Snell). The Dodgers feasted from there, and ended up winning the 2020 World Series in that game.

In the 2025 NLCS vs. Milwaukee, Blake Snell opened up the series and went eight strong scoreless innings, with 10 Ks.

Tonight is a chance for two-time Cy Young Award Winner Blake Snell to show the world, on the biggest stage, that he can gut through the lineup a third time.

In the Dodgers' 2024 World Series Championship run, Shohei Ohtani was caught stealing in Game 2 of the 2024 World Series, and the awkward landing had him suffer a shoulder subluxation which impaired his ability to contribute for the rest of the World Series.

This 2025 postseason, Ohtani was largely absent from and lost at the plate, following NLWC Game 1 against the Reds (two HR)...until NLCS Game 4 against the Brewers, where Ohtani put on the best sporting performance ever, from both the plate (3 HR) and the mound (10 Ks).

Tonight is a chance for three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani to show the world, on the biggest stage, the majesty of his offensive power.

Also, I am not buying into the narrative about the Dodgers being heavy favorites on this one. It's certainly not a David vs. Goliath story, not with the Blue Jays owning the fifth-highest payroll in the majors; the beasts in their offensive lineup; or the fact that they have all of Canada behind them (and probably most of America, as well).

Not to mention, tonight's Blue Jays starter, Trey Yesavage, has torn through the playoffs (22 Ks over three starts), and the Dodgers don't tend to perform well against pitchers we've never seen.

This is going to be a dogfight. Game 1 at Rogers Centre is important.

LET'S GO, DODGERS!!!!!

2025 NLCS Game 4 Thread: Oct 17 vs. Brewers, 5.30p

Shohei Ohtani vs. Jose Quintana.

Everyone is talking about how Brewers manager Pat Murphy, riding rookie phenom Jacob Misiorowski to five impressive flamethrowing innings yesterday in NLCS Game 3, appears to be out of chess moves to thwart the steamrolling Dodgers (up 3-0 in the NLCS).

But you know who's also out of moves?

Dodger manager Dave Roberts is forced to start a guy tonight who is batting .158 with a .641 OPS. And not only that, Roberts is batting him leadoff as well.

So here we go.

2025 NLCS Game 3 Thread: Oct 16 vs. Brewers, 3p

Glasnow was pretty good, last time out. He'd better be, again.

Tyler Glasnow vs. TBD.

For the second time this series, let's start with the negative. According to Jayson Stark in The Athletic, there have been eight teams (including this year's Dodgers), since the 2000 Yankees (MLB's last repeat winner), who have been within six games of a repeat World Series Championship. And none of the other seven have made it to a repeat title:

• 2001 Yankees — one win away (lost Game 7 of the World Series)
• 2009 Phillies — two wins away (lost the World Series in six games)
• 2008 Red Sox — five wins away (lost in Game 7 of ALCS)
• 2012 Cardinals — five wins away (lost in Game 7 of NLCS)
• 2023 Astros — five wins away (lost in Game 7 of ALCS)
• 2010 Yankees — six wins away (lost in Game 6 of ALCS)
• 2021 Dodgers — six wins away (lost in Game 6 of NLCS)

Put another way, of the seven teams since 2000 that had won two games in the LCS and were vying for a repeat World Series title, five of them didn't even make it out of the LCS.

To be fair, the 2001 Yankees were the only team in that set of seven who had a 2-0 lead in the LCS--on the road, no less!--and then went on to fall short (in the World Series, to Luis Gonzalez and the Diamondbacks).

On the other hand, World Series winners in 2021-2023 (Atlanta, Houston, and Texas) all went up 2-0 in their LCS en route to a World Series Championship.

(Atlanta was also up 2-0 on the Dodgers in the 2020 NLCS, and the Dodgers stormed back to not only win the 2020 NLCS but win the 2020 World Series.)

And did you see what just happened to the Mariners last night? Up 2-0 and heading home for Game 3, the Blue Jays rolled the Mariners 13-4, with five Blue Jays hitting home runs en route to victory. Ouch.

Tyler Glasnow takes the mound tonight for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's had two appearances in the 2025 postseason: a relief appearance in NLDS G1, where he went 1.2 IP (0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 2 Ks), and then a more conventional (and effective) start in NLDS G4 (6.0 IP, 0 ER 2 H, 3 BB, 8 Ks). I was there for that NLDS G4, and he had pinpoint accuracy and was just setting up Ks all over the place, including in high-leverage positions. But Glasnow has gotten through six full innings in only three of his eleven career postseason starts, but no further than that--which means Dave Roberts is gonna have to use the bullpen somehow tonight.

So let's look at some more stats (courtesy ESPN's Get Up from 10.15):

I'm terrified.

2025 NLCS Game 2 Thread: Oct 14 @ Brewers, 5p

Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Freddy Peralta.

Let's take the Brewers' NLCS Game 1 pitching lineup as an anomaly. The good news is, we've now gotten a good look at six of Milwaukee's relievers, especially Quinn Priester, who pitched innings two through five. And we did get some hits and walks off them (7 H and 8 BB, respectfully), against only 4 Ks, showing better plate discipline than we had against the Phillies in the NLCS.

But today's Game 2 features an actual starting pitcher for the Brewers, Freddy Peralta, and he's a pretty good one at that. Peralta's 5.5 WAR and 2.70 ERA this year ranked him seventh in the majors. Peralta also shut us down in the first of two starts against the Dodgers this year (July 7: 6.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB and 7 Ks), and he earned the win (but was less effective) in his second start against us (July 19: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB and 4 Ks). Perhaps that bodes well for the Dodgers, as he's at least trending in a favorable direction.

(Peralta also started twice in the 2025 NLDS against the Cubs: winning NLDS G1 (5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 3 BB and 9 Ks), but losing NLDS G4 (4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB and 6 Ks). Again, trending in a favorable direction.)

But let's not get distracted from some glaring issues with our own lineup. Shohei Ohtani, 0-for-2 (albeit with 3 BBs) yesterday, is now batting .138 in the leadoff spot. Mookie Betts was 0-for-4 and Teoscar Hernadez 0-for-3 yesterday.

Without those three hitting, we barely eked out the two runs we needed to win Game 1--but let's remember, we've scored two runs or fewer against the Brewers in five of seven games this season, and last night's game was the only time we came out with a win.

And Andy Pages, 0-for-3 yesterday, is now batting .037 in the postseason. I mean, I don't hope for Michael Conforto (who thankfully is not on the NLCS roster). But even he can hit better than .037.

Not to mention, Teoscar fricking' TOOTBLANned yesterday, as well.

If the best highlight the Brewers get from the 2025 NLCS is this absurd double play, I'd be thrilled. Unfortunately, I think they'll have many more highlights in this series. Hopefully, just not any Brewers highlights tonight.

2025 NLCS Game 1 Thread: Oct 13 @ Brewers, 5p

Blake Snell (2-0, 1.38) vs. TBD.

Let's start with the negative: the Dodgers were basically a mediocre road team this year (41-40), but against the Brewers, the Dodgers came up short both on the road AND at home, losing all six games to Milwaukee this year. In the three games in Milwaukee, we scored a total of four runs, never scoring more than two runs in a game.

So tonight's game at Miller Park American Family Field should not give the Dodgers a ton of hope or momentum, especially coming off of a very fortunate NLDS victory that was partially handed to us by a game-ending error (another weak offensive performance by the Dodgers, might I add).

Sure, Fangraphs gives us favorable odds of 70% to win the NLCS. ESPN's pundit panel sides with the Dodgers. And The Athletic's panel gives a very slight series edge to the Dodgers (even though San Francisco Giant homer Grant Brisbee is one of the ones picking the Brewers to win).

As a result, I'm not feeling confident heading into this NLCS. The Phillies were a tough opponent in the NLDS, and we barely snuck by them and advanced. The Brewers play great defense, kill you with small ball, and have a grizzled coach who has his team believing. Can the Dodgers, with their bullpen cupboard bare, and their main slugger batting .148 this postseason, really feel like they've got what it takes to win?

We're going to have to step the hell up here. Like Roki Sasaki in the NLDS.

Now that was awesome.

LET'S GO, DODGERS!

UPDATE 10:48a: Ben Casparius makes the NLCS roster; Dalton Rushing (as a third catcher) left off.

2025 NLDS Game 4 Thread: Oct 9 vs. Phillies, 3p

Awakening the sleeping giant.

Tyler Glasnow (4-3, 3.19) vs. Cristopher Sanchez (13-5, 2.50).

So many things went wrong for the Dodgers last night, in Game 3. Andy Pages' moribund play both at the plate and in the field. Having to leave Clayton Kershaw out there when he clearly had trouble finding the strike zone. Watching Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman have a third straight game without much pop in the bats.

And worst of all, we've awakened Kyle Schwarber, not to mention given signs of life to Trea Turner and Bryce Harper. This is not good.

Meanwhile, we've got this guy starting NLDS Game 4, after watching him struggle to get through five outs back in Game 1. (And remember, Sanchez notched eight strikeouts against us in Game 1, basically shutting us down until the sixth inning.)

So I'm throwing a hail mary here and I'm going to 2025 NLDS Game 4. It's do or die. I have a bad feeling that I know the outcome already, though.

2025 NLDS Game 3 Thread: Oct 8 vs. Phillies, 6p

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49) vs. Aaron Nola (5-10, 6.01).

Yoshinobu Yamamoto gets his second start of the postseason, following a clinching NLWC Game 2 in which he went 6.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER (thanks, Teoscar!) 2 BB and 9 Ks, to earn the victory. We've got a chance for Yamamoto to clinch another series tonight.

Aaron Nola gets the nod over Ranger Suarez, which is a little bit of a surprise:

Though Nola is the longest-tenured Phillie and certainly has a proven track record, he went just 5-10 with a 6.01 ERA in 17 starts this season. He missed three months from mid-May to mid-August due to a sprained right ankle and a stress fracture in one of his ribs.

I'm not sleeping on this one, though. Nola did see the Dodgers on April 5, 2025, in a losing effort (Dodgers won 3-1; Nola went 6.0 IP and gave up all three ER). He is 3-3 with a 4.31 ERA in 12 starts against the Dodgers, lifetime.

But Nola may just be a feint anyway, with Suarez rarin' to go. From the same mlb.com piece:

Thomson will undoubtedly have a quick hook with the Phillies’ season on the line, but even if Nola is pitching well, it’s possible he’s asked only to get through the Dodgers’ lineup one time.

Despite his struggles this season, it’s worth noting that Nola has typically navigated the opposing lineup pretty well the first time through. Opponents hit just .252 with a .693 OPS against Nola when facing him for the first time. That OPS jumped to .797 the second time through -- and 1.005 the third time.

Suarez also pitched three innings of 3 ER ball against us, on September 15, 2025, in a game the Dodgers lost 6-5 in 10 innings. He is 3-2 with a 3.64 ERA against the Dodgers across eight starts. But he pitches well in Dodger Stadium, which is one of his top-five tOPS+ stadium across his career (by comparison, Nola has a 95 tOPS+ at Dodger Stadium).

Coming home gives the Dodgers a chance to smoothen out some of those very rough fielding edges that we've seen for most of this postseason (I'm looking at you, Teoscar, Max, and Tommy). Not to mention, it would be nice to see Andy Pages have a good AB for a change.

Let's go, Dodgers!

2025 NLDS Game 2 Thread: Oct 6 @ Phillies, 3p

Blake Snell (5-4, 2.35) vs. Jesus Luzardo (15-7, 3.92).

Fellow SoSGers, I confess that I missed NLDS Game 1.

Car trouble and an overly-ambitious schedule during the day thwarted my efforts to actually watch Game 1. I was stuck on the side of a road waiting for a tow truck to come. And it was difficult, because all I had was radio. Though to be honest, I don't think I could have had the emotional strength to make it through a live viewing of that game.

I would have fallen into despair when Shohei Ohtani got rattled in the second inning, understandbly so while watching Teoscar Hernandez run practice jog routes out in right field rather than bend down and try and stop a ball.

I would have screamed at the television watching Andy Pages flail at the plate for another game, looking totally overmatched.

I would have chewed through t-shirt watching Max Muncy make another fielding error at third base.

And I would have had nothing left in the tank to cheer when the Dodgers showed a level of mettle I did not know or even believe that they had, ultimately prevailing in Game 1, 5-3.

Here's Fangraphs' win probability. That is nuts.

Ohtani not only settled down after that second inning, he didn't allow another run in four more innings of work, shutting the Phillies down (especially their top three formidable bats). And that wasn't easy, given how Philadelphia fans were jeering him all game. Teoscar Hernandez hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh that was totally unlikely given his play this year, but maybe not so given his postseason resume.

Speaking of postseason resumes, Kiké Hernandez, a woeful .203 batter in the 2025 season, is up to his same clutch self: batting .417 with a 1.000 OPS this postseason. His two-RBI double in the sixth put us on the board and created some tension in a game where the Phillies seemed to be rolling. It makes no sense that Kiké is so clutch in October, but so it happens every year.

And even Andy Pages scored a run and had a hit in this one (he's now 1-for-13 in this postseason).

During yesterday's off-day, I watched the condensed game highlights of Game 1, and Rick Monday (on his radio call) was spot-on--Citizens Bank Park turned as silent as a library after Teo's HR. It was amazing.

From the LA Times, "When you can hear a pin drop in the stadium, that’s the ultimate feeling in baseball,” Max Muncy said of the home run. “I felt like the people in the upper deck could hear us cheering in the dugout.”

And so today, we try to steal another game from the Phillies in NLDS Game 2, a game I do plan to watch. Blake Snell was great in 2025 NLWC Game 1 for us, and given Dave Roberts' new "all-starters, all the time" strategic approach and/or necessity (Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki got 26 of the 27 outs in Game 1), we again will need Snell to go long.

I've mocked Snellzilla for most of this year. It would be great to see him breathe fire in Game 2.

2025 NLDS Game 1 Thread: Oct 4 @ Phillies, 3.30p

Shohei Ohtani (1-1, 2.87) vs. Cristopher Sánchez (13-5, 2.50).

In the marquee game of the day--pushed later in the evening (screwing the Cubs @ Brewers!), just to further elevate the contest--the Dodgers are giving what the worldwide MLB audience wants to see: Shohei Ohtani's first postseason pitching start.

Holy shit, this is huge.

But here's the problem (which I'm sure the Phillies are already considering): Ohtani hasn't gone beyond six innings all year. In fact, the last time he pitched into the seventh inning was July 27, 2023 (a complete game win over Detroit, when Ohtani was with the Angels). And we all know what happened after that, with regards to his injury. The bubblewrap has to be on Ohtani for this start (which may not be such a bad idea when he's pitching, lest a comebacker go up the middle).

And then that means we have to deploy the bullpen, upon which the Phillies are gonna feast.

So yeah, I'm psyched for the Ohtani start. I'm just dreading what comes next.

2025 NL Wild Card Game 2 Thread: Oct 1 vs. Reds, 6p

I love how the Dodger Stadium field is beautified in the postseason.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Zack Littell.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a 5.0 WAR this season (second highest on the team, only to Shohei Ohtani). Yamamoto pitched against Cincinnati on July 28, going 7.0 IP (4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB and 9 Ks), earning his ninth victory of the season.

Zack Littell (3.2 WAR) was picked by the Reds at this year's trade deadline from the Rays. He went 2-0 with the Reds across 10 starts, sporting a 4.39 ERA which was a bit worse than his 3.58 ERA with Tampa Bay (where he went 8-8). He did not face the Dodgers this season.

I've got mixed feelings about last night's victory, given it showed our clear strengths (starting pitching and the home run firepower) as well as our weaknesses (most of the bullpen). Let's get the win today so we can wrap this up; I'd realy hate for a Game 3 to happen.

2025 NL Wild Card Game 1 Thread: Sept 30 vs. Reds, 6p

Blake Snell vs. Hunter Greene.

The Reds may have backed into the playoffs with a loss in their final game and a 83-79 record (10 games worse than the Dodgers), but it doesn't matter now--they're on level ground with the winners of the NL West. And since anything can happen in the playoffs--the Reds have a 31.4% chance of advancing, according to Fangraphs--I'm already pretty nervous (as usual).

The fact that we're starting Blake Snell for Game 1 doesn't settle my stomach much, either. Snell, who missed almost all of the first four months of the season with assorted boo boos, did not pitch against Cincinnati this year.

Notre Dame Sherman Oaks graduate Hunter Greene pitched one game against the Dodgers this season, on August 25, 2025. He took the loss having pitched 5.0 innings: 6 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 HR (both by Andy Pages), 2 BB and 3 Ks. Michael Conforto, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith all struck out against Greene, but Conforto and Freeman also had doubles against Greene before he exited, and Smith's walk against Greene in the bottom of the sixth (with none out and one on) chased Greene from the game.

Pages knocked in five runs in that game. I assume he will be in the starting lineup today.

And of course, this game marks another return to Dodger Stadium for former Dodger and 2024 World Series Champion, Gavin Lux. Lux, whose -0.2 WAR paled in comparison to (his replacement) Hyeseong Kim's 1.6 WAR, still had a respectable year, with a 97 OPS+ of .724 (relative to Kim's OPS .699 / OPS+ 95). So maybe trading Lux was a wash? He still has a mean ultimate frisbee forehand.

But the one to watch in Cincinnati's lineup has to be Elly De La Cruz, who played in every game for the Reds this year, batting .264 with a .777 OPS (109 OPS+, to lead the team). He mashes (a team-leading 22 HR), but also strikes out a lot (a team leading 181 Ks--which to be fair is six fewer than Shohei Ohtani). We need to keep him off the basepaths this series, or there will be no more plane rides for us this year.

(Lux photo: John Hefti-Imagn Images, from Sports Illustrated)

UPDATE 9.30 2p: Will Smith makes the NL Wild Card roster. Justin Dean grabs an outfielder spot, alng with Alex Call; Michael Conforto does not make the cut. Also, on the pitching side, Roki Sasaki makes the roster; Clayton Kershaw, who pitched the last game of the regular season, will not be on the NLWC squad (as has been widely reported for days now).

Game 162 Thread: Sept 28 @ Mariners, 12.10p

It's this man's final regular season start.

Clayton Kershaw (10-2, 3.52) vs. Bryce Miller (4-5, 5.53).

This blog has been around since 2006, and for almost the entirety of this 20-year run, we've had one constant: Clayton Kershaw (who debuted with the Dodgers in 2008).

It will be very weird to think of the Dodgers without Clayton Kershaw on the roster.

So let's celebrate his last regular-season start today, and honor the class act that is Clayton Kershaw.

UPDATE 9.49a: Okay, I can't help myself. We have to keep half an eye on the out of town scoreboard today, to see who our opponent will be for the National League Wild Card series.

In Milwaukee, Cincinnati's Brady Singer (14-11, 3.95) goes up against Freddy Peralta (17-6, 2.68), who has been talked about for the National League Cy Young Award. That's a heck of an opponent for the Reds, but if they win, they advance to the playoffs.

In Miami, the Mets' Sean Manaea (2-4, 5.80) squares off against Edward Cabrera (7-7, 3.66). If the Mets lose, the Reds advance to the playoffs. The only combination of outcomes that works for the Mets is a Mets victory AND a Reds loss.

All MLB games start at the same time today.

If there's another silver lining, it's that both the Reds and Mets will have to throw their best (remaining) arm and also play their full lineup, whereas the Dodgers can let Kershaw go a minimum number of innings (Tyler Glasnow only had three innings in his start yesterday), and also rest the batters (apparently, there's a Monday workout back in Los Angeles).

Game 161 Thread: Sept 27 @ Mariners, 6.40p

Tyler Glasnow (4-3, 3.30) vs. Logan Gilbert (6-6, 3.43).

I didn't expect yesterday's outcome, not with Blake Treinen and Tanner Scott pitching the eighth and ninth innings (neither of those came easy, but we still eked out a 3-2 win). We even overcame two incredibly shitty plays by Michael Conforto in left field: one, a first-inning missed fly ball that led to the Mariners' first run; and then in the seventh, a line drive that he plays off the wall and threw very wide to second base, allowing Randy Arozarena to reach second instead of being caught dead to rights.

Conforto, who got the start in left field, must be stopped.

He's back below the Mendoza line, btw, with an 0-for-2 performance yesterday.

I also wouldn't have expected us to win a game in which we didn't play Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Tommy Edman, Max Muncy, or even the injured Will Smith.

This can't be our postseason strategy, right?

Game 160 Thread: Sept 26 @ Mariners, 6.40p

Here's a list of some places you might see Dodger players this weekend.

Emmet Sheehan (6-3, 2.86) vs. TBD.

The Mariners have clinched the AL West. The Dodgers have clinched the NL West.

Let's just get out there and enjoy things today, okay? Maybe even give Michael Conforto the start?

Other games to watch, with implications on our upcoming Wild Card Series opponent:

• Mets, currently in the #6 seed: at Marlins, 4.10p. Sproat vs. Alcantara.
• Reds, currently one game behind the Mets: at Brewers, 5.10p. Littell vs. Priester.
• D'backs, currently two games behind the Mets: at Padres, 6.40p. Gallen vs. Darvish.

The Dodgers went 3-4 against the Mets, 5-1 against the Reds, and 7-6 against the Diamondbacks this season. I suppose I'm pulling for Cincinnati, then.

Game 159 Thread: Sept. 25 vs. D'backs, 12.40p

Only some red and black Beaks stand between us and our goal.

UPDATE 1.18p: Since the Snakes are wearing alternate color uniforms, I've updated the image accordingly. (And Beeks is already out of the game, making this image even less relevant.)

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-8, 2.58) vs. Jalen Beeks (5-2, 3.67).

With their unlikely win last night in extras, the Dodgers' magic number to win the NL West is one. All we need is one favorable outcome, from seven remaining events (the Dodgers have one game in Arizona, followed by three games in Seattle; the Padres have three games in Arizona), and the NL West is ours.

Gosh I'd love to clinch the divisional win at Chase Field today. Hmm, if we were to win on the road today, how might we celebrate? I wonder...

(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)