Dodgers look to clinch Wild Card win against Reds

The Dodgers are on the verge of moving on from the Wild Card round, hoping for an offensive outburst like Tuesday’s game

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What is the story about?

Well

It crazy how a five-run lead in the ninth can be stressful with this bullpen. Don’t know if it was the lack of pressure that saw Alex Vesia flub, where he normally is nails, or what. But four pitchers should not have to be used to get six outs in a playoff game. Let’s hope that trend doesn’t continue.

The Dodgers bats at least were alive and well, something we haven’t seen in to start some playoff series in the past. Two home runs each by Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez were welcome sights.

The offense isn’t going to score 10 runs every game, but the explosiveness from the get-go was good to see.

Now we turn to Game 2 in the series, in which the Dodgers can win the Wild Card round and move on to the NLDS. The Reds had originally had slated Nick Lodolo to start Game 2 but have now pivoted to righty Zack Littell. Manager Terry Francona stated that Littell would be pitching on his regular rest, and Lodolo will be in the bullpen. It sounds like Littell will be on a short leash, and that Lodolo will come in to do the bulk of the pitching.

The Dodgers will be sending the pitcher of the month for September, Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the mound. He faced the Reds earlier this season, allowing only one run over seven innings, and has held them to a .175 batting average in all his outings against them.

While the offense looked good last night, one guy who still looks lost at the plate is Max Muncy. Going back to the 2024 World Series, Muncy is 0-20 in the playoffs with 13 Ks. Max has been through quite the gauntlet over the last six weeks or so, dealing with various injuries including one to his head. It would stand to reason that he is not right.

Perhaps this pitching matchup can be one to turn him around. Muncy is a career .400/.500/1.600 against Zack Littell with two homers. If that can give Muncy some confidence, it can only lengthen the Dodgers lineup.

Two things to watch for are if Tommy Edman and Kike’ Hernandez will be playing. Both left Tuesday’s game early. Edman was removed early to give his ankle some added rest, and Hernandez was removed with back tightness. Manager Dave Roberts emphatically said after the game that Hernandez will be playing Wednesday. Kike’ is a player they can’t afford to lose because October Kike’ has arrived already.

Keys to this game of course are let Yamamoto go as far into the game as possible and have a big enough lead that the bullpen can’t let the Reds get any momentum and get back in it. Seems simple enough. Let there be more champagne tonight.