The Los Angeles Dodgers wasted no time in Game 1, smashing five home runs in a 10–5 rout of the Cincinnati Reds to open their Wild Card series. It was the kind of tone-setting performance that reminded everyone why Los Angeles remains one of baseball’s most dangerous postseason squads.
Now the question is whether Cincinnati has an answer when the two clubs meet again in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium.
Dodgers vs Reds Odds
Oddsmakers have doubled down on the Dodgers after that offensive eruption. Los Angeles sits at roughly –275 on the moneyline, with the Reds getting +1.5 runs on the spread and the total set around 8 runs.
Dodgers vs Reds Prediction
After yesterday’s offensive game, it is hard not to look at the over today. On the other hand, Wild Card games have been low scoring over the past few years and that seemed to show in the rest of the scores from Tuesday. If there’s a play to be made, it’s Los Angeles covering the run line. The Dodgers should be dominant in a game that will move them into the next round.
The over is also intriguing, as both lineups can score, but the pitching is just a little bit too unpredictable. For Cincinnati to flip the script and get back in the series, Zack Littell will need to quiet Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman early.
Best Bet: Dodgers -1.5
Projected Starting Lineups for October 1
Dodgers Projected Lineup
Position | Player |
DH | Shohei Ohtani |
1B | Freddie Freeman |
2B | Max Muncy |
SS | Mookie Betts |
3B | Miguel Rojas |
LF | Kiké Hernández |
C | Will Smith |
RF | Teoscar Hernández |
SP | Yoshinobu Yamamoto |
Reds Projected Lineup
Position | Player |
SS | Elly De La Cruz |
2B | Spencer Steer |
3B | Noelvi Marte |
1B | Santiago Espinal |
CF | Austin Hays |
LF | Will Benson |
C | Tyler Stephenson |
RF | Gavin Lux |
SP | Zack Littell |
How to Watch Dodgers vs Reds
First pitch is set for 9:08 p.m. ET on October 1 at Dodger Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, with streaming through MLB.TV and other partner apps.
Final Word
The Dodgers looked like a team in championship mode in Game 1, putting the Reds in a position where every inning of Game 2 feels like a must-win. Littell has the tall task of slowing down a lineup that punished nearly every mistake 24 hours earlier. If he can’t, Los Angeles may not just win the series, they could do it in emphatic fashion.
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