As the 2025 MLB regular season is hurrying towards its final weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers are staring down probably one of the trickiest roadblocks ever—the Cincinnati Reds—and most importantly, Hunter Greene. With the Wild Card spot up for grabs, Greene has become the X-factor that the Dodgers doesn’t want to face.

Because Greene’s dominance is simply impossible to ignore, he is coming off a complete game shutout against the Cubs. He has an eye-watering 2.74 ERA, 125 SO, and 0.92 WHIP. Essentially, he is the one player every team wants to avoid in a must-win scenario. And he is adored by the Reds. “Hunter is our No. 1,” Andrew Abbott said. “He’s something you’d go to see. If I were a fan in Cincinnati, I would come to watch Hunter throw. He’s young, he’s dominant, and he’s our ace.”

Sure, the Dodgers do have some firepower of their own—like Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who could take Games 1 and 2. And Mookie Betts, who continues to perform at an elite level. But the uncertainty is looming large—can they handle Greene on a short rest? And will the bullpen hold up under the playoff pressure?

Jeff Passan thinks the Dodgers better hope that they don’t have to face the Reds. Talking to the Talkin’ Baseball podcast, “Okay, so let’s. Yeah, there is one Dodgers closer scenario, though. Like, aren’t the Reds the snake in the grass? Yes. Yes. Yeah. Let’s put it this way. If I’m the Los Angeles Dodgers, I do not want the Cincinnati Reds to get the final wildcard spot because I do not want to face Hunter Green and Andrew Abbott. Uh, even if it’s at home with my season on the line.”

That’s where the real concern really is. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ bullpen, which was once expected to be a stabilizing force, has now become a liability to the team. Tanner Scott, Blake Treinen, and Kirby Yates were all brought to make a difference, but September has been unkind to them. Nearly half of the Dodgers’ earned runs allowed this month come from these three players. Hence, the questions of whether they stack up against the Reds come.

With Greene on the mound and the Reds riding on a late-season surge, the Dodgers are facing a precarious situation. And sure, the Dodgers have the superstars, but the Reds might just be the underdog who steals it all. For now, though, Cincinnati just faltered one step in their wild-card chase, and this might make the Dodgers giggle.

Reds need Greene as Terry Francona’s costly gamble backfires

The Cincinnati Reds had a golden opportunity to get a leg up in the playoff race this week. But manager Terry Francona let it slip. With an off day in the schedule, Francona had the chance to push Hunter Greene up in the rotation against the Pirates. Instead, he went ahead with Brady Singer, and that move felt like a gamble, and it ended up being a gamble, given that it backfired.

Singer battled, but a four-run second inning was more than enough for the Pirates to end up with a 4-2 win. The numbers tell the story—Singer has struggled against the Pittsburgh Pirates this season. He is now 1-3 with a 6.16 ERA against them, and Tuesday’s matchup only adds to the misery. Not exactly the person you want on the mound when every game matters or decides your postseason fate.

The loss stung even more because the New York Mets won against the Cubs, and that dropped the Reds one game back in the Wild Card chase. Add in Arizona’s win over the Dodgers, and the pressure only adds up. Now it is all on Greene, and the 25-year-old has been every bit the ace the Reds need. And on Wednesday, he will be asked to go head-to-head with Paul Skenes, the possible NL Cy Young winner.

This might be a must-watch game—two of the best arms in the game, and one playoff race hanging in the balance.