MLB Playoffs: Reds vs Dodgers NL Wild Card Pick — Surprising Cincinnati Looks for Historic Upset in LA

• In the Reds-Dodgers MLB Wild Card series, defending World Series champs LA are an overwhelming favorite against upstart Cincinnati
• The Reds (83-79) benefited from teams that were expected to contend coming apart and used manager Terry Francona’s experience and young players to make the playoffs
• The Dodgers (93-69) endured an injury-plagued and overall disappointing season given their expectations and star power, but still won the NL West
• LA won 5 of the 6 matchups during the regular season

The Reds Have Nothing To Lose

Any team that hires Terry Francona as manager is expecting to be competitive. The Reds, however, did not walk into the 2025 season thinking they were a playoff team unless everything broke their way.

It turned out that many things did break their way, particularly the Mets collapsing in the second half of the season. Despite losing to the Brewers on Sunday, the Reds made the postseason due to the Mets’ loss in Miami.

Cincinnati arrived as a postseason participant at least a year earlier than expected. But they’re here and might as well keep going — a mindset Francona will emphasize.

The Reds can win because they have good starting pitching. Their rotation of Brady Singer, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Hunter Greene is one of the youngest and best in the entire playoff field. The bullpen can be shaky, but Francona knows how to navigate that in the playoffs, given his longstanding experience with the Red Sox and Indians/Guardians.

Offensively, they have moderate pop and can steal bases. Elly De La Cruz should see this as his coming-out party to introduce himself to the world on the big stage. Rookie Sal Stewart is the type of younster who will not be intimidated by the magnitude of the moment. Veteran Miguel Andujar has been amazing since joining the Reds with a .359/.400/.544 slash in 110 plate appearances. He has playoff experience from his time with the Yankees.

NL West Title Aside, the Dodgers Were Disappointing

The Dodgers have crafted such high expectations with massive star power that an NL West title and 93 wins are viewed as disappointing. Shohei Ohtani saved them at the plate and on the mound, even though he was believed to be a luxury on the mound before the season started.

Injuries ravaged the starting rotation, with Tyler Glasnow limited to 18 starts, Blake Snell to 11, and Roki Sasaki to 8. Their bullpen — usually a strength — has been terrible. Closer Tanner Scott had a -0.6 bWAR and gave up 11 home runs in 57 innings.

At the plate, apart from Ohtani, they have been feast or famine. They still hit a lot of home runs, but Mookie Betts was underwhelming with a .732 OPS and 20 home runs. Will Smith had an MVP-caliber season. Freddie Freeman posted an .869 OPS with 24 homers.

As for Ohtani, he hit 55 homers, led the NL with a .662 slugging percentage, and a 1.014 OPS. On the mound, he struck out 62 in 47 innings and had a 1.1 bWAR in 14 starts. They might not have made the playoffs without his pitching.

Reds vs Dodgers MLB Wild Card Pick

The Reds-Dodgers MLB Wild Card Series is not as much of a mismatch as it appears on paper. The Reds have a few attributes that could make them a serious threat to bounce the Dodgers. They can pitch, they can run, they have a significant advantage in the dugout with Francona able to run circles around the puppet Dave Roberts, and they have nothing to lose.

Can LA overcome their bad bullpen and the public supporting their opponents as a classic underdog with the likable manager?

The series will go to 3 games, and the Dodgers will pull it out after the Reds put a huge scare into them.