Baseball fans, buckle up! The 2025 National League Wild Card Series is here, and it’s shaping up to be a classic David vs. Goliath showdown as the Cincinnati Reds—fresh off clinching the final playoff spot—take on the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The first pitch is set for 9:08 p.m. ET on September 30, and with so much at stake, the drama is already building.
Let’s talk about the stakes, because they couldn’t be higher. The Dodgers enter the postseason with a jaw-dropping $509 million total spend, including nearly $168 million in luxury tax payments. That’s the largest payroll in Major League Baseball history, and it dwarfs the Reds’ comparatively modest $121 million payroll. The economic disparity is hard to miss—six of the twelve playoff teams boast payrolls north of $200 million, but the Dodgers are in a league of their own. The Reds, meanwhile, are the ultimate underdogs, having edged out the high-spending New York Mets for the third National League wild card berth thanks to a head-to-head tiebreaker.
"This is as good as a starting staff I've had going into the postseason by far," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said last week, and it’s hard to argue. The Dodgers’ rotation is loaded and healthy, featuring Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and, if needed, Shohei Ohtani for a potential Game 3. Tyler Glasnow and Emmet Sheehan are available out of the bullpen, while veteran Clayton Kershaw is waiting in the wings for a possible Division Series appearance. The Dodgers’ starters have been on a tear since August 1, posting a 3.35 ERA—second-best in the league—and holding opponents to a .173 batting average in September, the lowest mark by a rotation in the Modern Era.
Blake Snell, who signed a five-year, $182 million deal with Los Angeles this offseason, gets the ball for Game 1. After missing four months with left shoulder inflammation, Snell finished strong, going 5-4 with a 2.35 ERA in 11 starts. "The whole reason I came here was to pitch in October," Snell said. "To challenge myself personally. To face the best when the stakes are the highest, that’s what I’ve always wanted. I couldn’t be more excited to be in this position." For Snell, this postseason start carries extra weight—his infamous 2020 World Series Game 6 outing against the Dodgers (then as a Ray) ended with a controversial early hook, paving the way for LA’s championship clincher. Now, he’s looking to make his mark from the other dugout.
Across the diamond, the Reds are riding a wave of momentum after clinching their spot on September 28, thanks to a Mets loss and a 4-2 head-to-head edge. It’s their first playoff appearance in a full 162-game season since 2013, and their first postseason series since 2020. Reds ace Hunter Greene, a Los Angeles native, gets the nod for Game 1, pitching on regular rest after being held out of the season finale against Milwaukee. Nick Lodolo, usually a key piece of the rotation, is unavailable for his normal spot after pitching in relief to secure the playoff berth. The Reds’ rotation—featuring Greene, Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott—has been formidable, combining for a 3.07 ERA and backed by a bullpen that’s grown deeper with the additions of Nick Martinez and Chase Burns.
But let’s not sugarcoat it—the Reds are up against it. The Dodgers swept them in a three-game set at Dodger Stadium just last month, and on paper, LA’s advantages are everywhere except perhaps the bullpen. The Reds’ biggest weakness? Scoring runs. This year’s squad is less about wild base-running or home run barrages and more about run prevention. Against left-handed pitching, they’ve struggled, ranking 26th in the majors with a 79 wRC+. That’s a problem, considering the Dodgers’ arsenal of lefty arms, starting with Snell and extending to as many as five left-handed relievers. Dodgers relievers have held left-handed hitters to a .184 average while striking out nearly 27% of them. For switch-hitting Reds star Elly De La Cruz, that means facing his weaker side, where he’s managed just a .621 OPS against lefties.
Still, the Reds have a few cards up their sleeve. Gavin Lux, a former Dodger now with Cincinnati, is eager for the chance to face his old teammates in October. “I’d be excited anywhere it was, but I think it’s cool that I get to go back there and hopefully knock them out,” Lux said. The Reds also took a series from the Dodgers at Great American Ball Park earlier this season, showing they can hang with the best when things click.
For the Dodgers, the X-factor is Shohei Ohtani. Not only will he lead off, but he’s likely to pitch if the series goes to a decisive Game 3. Ohtani’s presence is always electrifying, and his postseason debut on the mound for LA could be a game-changer. On the Reds’ side, it all starts with Elly De La Cruz. If he can recapture his early-season form, Cincinnati’s offense could surprise everyone.
The weather could play a subtle role in this series. A deeper marine layer and lingering cloud cover have left Los Angeles 4 to 8 degrees cooler than normal, with first pitch temperatures expected around 67 degrees on Tuesday and 71 on Wednesday. Gusty sundowner winds are possible in the evenings, potentially impacting fly balls and home run potential. Should the series go the distance, Thursday is forecasted to be slightly warmer but still below seasonal norms—a factor to watch for hitters and pitchers alike.
Beneath the on-field action, baseball’s financial landscape looms large. With the collective bargaining agreement set to expire in December 2026, some owners are pushing for a salary cap to address the widening gap between teams like the Dodgers and Reds. Players remain staunchly opposed, raising the specter of a possible work stoppage down the road. For now, though, all eyes are on the field, where payrolls, history, and reputations will be tested under October’s bright lights.
The series schedule is set: Game 1 on Tuesday, Game 2 on Wednesday, and, if necessary, a winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday. All games will air on ESPN, with streaming available through ESPN.com and the ESPN app. The Dodgers are favored, but as any baseball fan knows, October is full of surprises. Can the underdog Reds pull off a stunner, or will the Dodgers’ star power and financial muscle carry them one step closer to a repeat title?
As the sun sets over Chavez Ravine, anticipation is sky-high. The only thing certain is that the 2025 NL Wild Card Series between the Dodgers and Reds will be one to remember—no matter which way the wind blows.
