The Los Angeles Dodgers initiated their postseason campaign with a dominant 10-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of their Wild-Card series. For a team that secured their 12th National League West title in 13 years, this initial round against a seemingly outmatched opponent felt less like a genuine playoff battle and more like an inconvenient formality. The Dodgers, clearly annoyed by their unexpected placement in the wild-card bracket, aimed to sweep through the Reds swiftly.
Offensive fireworks lit up Chavez Ravine, with superstars Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernández each launching two home runs. Ohtani wasted no time, smashing a homer on the game's fourth pitch, setting an immediate tone against Reds ace Hunter Greene. Hernández and Tommy Edman further extended the lead with their own blasts, effectively putting the game out of reach within the first hour. Manager Dave Roberts praised his sluggers, attributing their performance to a 'clutch gene' and a comfort with high-pressure moments.
However, the victory wasn't without its familiar anxieties. Despite starter Blake Snell's stellar performance—seven innings of four-hit, nine-strikeout baseball—the Dodgers' bullpen once again showed vulnerability. Three relievers combined for four walks in the eighth inning, allowing the Reds to claw back three runs and nearly jeopardize what had been a comfortable eight-run lead. While Jack Dreyer and Blake Treinen eventually closed out the game, the late-inning jitters highlighted a significant concern that has plagued the Dodgers throughout the season.
This very bullpen inconsistency cost the Dodgers a coveted first-round bye. Finishing behind Milwaukee and Philadelphia in the National League standings, despite winning their division, forced them into this three-game series at home. Baseball boss Andrew Friedman acknowledged the bullpen's struggles, describing relievers as 'tightrope walkers' whose confidence can waver, leading to execution errors. He maintained it wasn't a talent issue, but rather a crisis of confidence that has led to an 'imperfect storm' of poor performances.
Looking ahead, the Dodgers are poised to clinch the series in Game 2 with ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the mound. The momentum from their strong finish to the regular season, where they led the league in scoring during the final weeks, appears to be carrying over. Yet, as attention shifts towards a likely Division Series clash with the formidable Philadelphia Phillies, the lingering question remains: can the Dodgers' bullpen find its footing when the stakes are at their absolute highest? This dominant first step was impressive, but the real tests, and the true measure of their bullpen's resilience, are yet to come.
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Originally published at: https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2025-09-30/plaschke-column-on-dodgers-reds-wild-card
