Cincinnati Reds vs. LA Dodgers, Picks and Prediction, Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Use Code SSWC The National League Wild Card shifts to Game 2 and we have Reds vs. Dodgers predictions which will help you make the most educated plays for Wednesday. The hosts are looking to make it a two-game sweep after pummeling their foe on Tuesday night, 10-5. Hoping to force a game three, Cincinnati will be going with RHP Zack Littell (10-8, 3.81 ERA) as their starter while Los Angeles counters with RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA) in response. The first pitch from Dodger Stadium is scheduled for 9:08 EST and stay up on all of the postseason action with our Free MLB Picks.
Late charge not enough for Reds
It had been half a decade since the Reds were in the postseason and having to face the defending World Series champs out of the gate proved a challenge. Through six innings, Cincinnati was held off the scoreboard, and the offense had only two hits to their name. They broke through with a pair of runs in the seventh, but by then it was far too late. The Reds were forced to go to their bullpen in the fourth inning on Tuesday night, not ideal for a group that ranked seventh in the National League with a 3.89 ERA in the regular season. They only used four relievers after starter Hunter Greene lasted only three innings, leaving some to eat some tough frames in an effort not to burn the pen.
Cincinnati’s batters struggled over the last half month of play, despite the club’s awesome run into the postseason. That carried over into the first half of Tuesday’s game as they struggled against the Dodgers starter before finally breaking through late against their bullpen. In his first career postseason game, Spencer Steer went 2-4 with a RBI. He’s reached base in eight of his last ten games. Elly De La Cruz managed to drive in two runs despite going 0-3 at the plate. The Reds’ shortstop had a walk and scored a run in the loss. He has reached base in nine of his last ten games.
Starter spotlight
- Zack Littell did not face the Dodgers this season.
- Lifetime, the Reds’ starter is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 14 games versus the Dodgers, all of them in relief.
- Since being traded to Cincinnati from Tampa Bay, the right-hander went 2-0 with a 4.39 ERA in 10 starts.
- The Reds are 6-4 when he pitches for them.
- Opponents are hitting .244 against him this season.
- Littell went five innings or less in three of his last five starts, a span where he had a 4.91 ERA.
Dodgers power up for victory
The Dodgers title defense began with a bang as the offense exploded for 10 runs, their highest output since September 14th. After struggling down the stretch of the regular season, the bats came to life immediately and produced 13 hits in the win, including five home runs. Starter Blake Snell struck out nine and allowed just two runs over seven innings to earn the win. He also forced eight groundouts out of the Reds. However, the Dodgers' bullpen, which has been a problem for much of the season, again struggled as it took four relievers to shut the door on the final two innings, including three to get through the eighth. On the year, the L.A. pen ranked 11th in the N.L. with a 4.27 ERA.
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Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez sparked the offensive explosion on Tuesday with two home runs apiece. Ohtani hit a lead-off home run in the win, his third long ball over his last four games and fifth in his last nine. It was also Ohtani’s fourth career postseason dinger. Hernandez put things out of reach with a three-run shot in the third inning, then followed with a solo shot in the fifth. After driving in 12 runs during last season’s playoff run, he opened this run going 3-4 with 4 RBIs. Los Angeles hitters did strike out 12 times on Tuesday while also drawing three walks.
Starter spotlight
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto faced the Reds once, in late July, earning a win after allowing a run, four hits and two walks while striking out nine over seven innings.
- He is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts versus Cincinnati.
- In four September starts, was 1-0 with a 0.67 ERA, allowing a combined seven hits while striking out 34 in 27 innings.
- Los Angeles is 17-13 when he has started this season.
- Teams are hitting .183 against him this season.
- Struck out exactly 10 batters in three of his last five starts.
Reds vs. Dodgers Picks
Money Line Wild Card Pick for Reds vs. Dodgers
- Los Angeles -1.5 (+108) (5 units)
Despite the Reds late charge on Tuesday night, the Dodgers were in firm control of game one and that’s good enough for them to have some momentum as they look to end this series quickly. They have the right guy on the hill to do just that as Yamamoto has been an absolute monster down the stretch. Over his last five starts, he allowed a combined three earned runs and 11 hits while striking out 44 batters. He has allowed four hits or fewer in seven straight starts and has allowed more than six hits only twice this season. The Reds don’t have a lot of hitters to begin with. Littell has allowed at least three runs in five of his last nine starts and his leash has gotten shorter since arriving in Cincinnati. The only thing that could hurt the Dodgers at this stage is their bullpen and Yamamoto should limit them from coughing up anything close. Los Angeles is 6-1 against the Reds this season, with all four wins at home coming by at least three runs.
Take the Dodgers with the run line.
Over/Under Pick for Reds vs. Dodgers
- Under 7 (4 units)
Tuesday night’s 15 combined runs crushed the over against a 7-point total. I don’t see the Dodgers hitting another five home runs in this game and after a 12-strikeout performance, I think their run total comes down in this game as well. They won’t need as much this time around. Yamamoto has been masterful of late, and I would expect him to do much the same here, putting his spin and punctuation on the series. Cincinnati was stymied by the Los Angeles starter on Tuesday, and they will be again here. Littell has been a bit of a crapshoot since coming to the Reds, but I expect him to hand things to the bullpen without too much damage against him. The under is 6-3-1 in the last ten games between these two teams.
Take the under.
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