The Dodgers are starting the National League Division Series on the road for the first time in four years, opening with Game 1 against the Phillies on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.
Shohei Ohtani, two-way player extraordinaire, three-time (and likely soon-to-be four-time) Most Valuable Player, will make the first postseason pitching start of his career. After a gradual build-up over the final three-plus months, Ohtani totaled 47 innings on the mound for the Dodgers, stretching
out to six innings for the first time this season on September 23. The reins have been loosened.
“If it’s six innings, it could be seven innings, I think this is something we’ve been waiting for all year. He’s ready for this moment,” manager Dave Roberts told reporters in Philadelphia on Friday. “So, for me, I’m just going to sit back and watch closely. But as he said earlier, just treat him like a regular pitcher.”
Left-hander Cristopher Sánchez had a wonderful regular season, with a 2.50 ERA with 212 strikeouts in 202 innings, career highs across the board. Sánchez allowed four runs in each of his two starts vs. the Dodgers this season, but totaled 15 strikeouts against only two walks in 12 2/3 innings, and the Phillies won both games.
The Dodgers during the regular season have lost each of their last five series against the Phillies, including dropping seven of their last nine games in Philadelphia dating back to 2023.
NLDS Game 1 info
- Teams: No. 3 seed Dodgers vs. No. 2 seed Phillies
- Ballpark: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
- Start time: 3:38 p.m. PT
- TV: TBS (Brian Anderson, Jeff Francoeur)
- National radio: ESPN Radio (Dave O’Brien, Jessica Mendoza)
- Local English radio: AM 570 (Stephen Nelson, Rick Monday)
- Local Spanish radio: KTNQ 1020 AM (Pepe Yñiguez, José Mota, Luis Cruz)
