With the regular season over, the postseason is here, and we have got some hot matchups on the cards. We got the Yankees facing the Red Sox, the Padres facing the Cubs, but the one of them that everybody is going to keep an eye on, regardless, is the Dodgers. With the Los Angeles Dodgers facing the Cincinnati Reds, The Enquirer says that the Dodgers are not the ones with the upper hand. They wrote, “It’s not too much to expect the Reds to beat the Dodgers. The Reds signaled a win-now approach when they hired… Terry Francona… Reds owner Bob Castellini set the expectation to bring a championship… when took ownership of the club in 2006.”

The Dodgers and Reds met eight times in 2025, with Los Angeles winning six of those contests. That included a commanding sweep at Dodger Stadium in late August, where the Dodgers outscored Cincinnati 18–7. History shows Cincinnati hasn’t won a division crown since 1995, a drought spanning three decades. Yet this October narrative feels different, as the Reds enter postseason play brimming with unexpected form and belief.

Momentum is a tricky companion in baseball, and Cincinnati has grabbed it by the collar recently. They’ve won key series in September, riding contributions from a rotation built perfectly for short bursts of postseason combat. Hunter Greene in particular has emerged as the face of this surge, his fastball averaging 99.5 mph this season. He struck out 211 batters in 174.2 innings, pairing electric velocity with a sharpened slider that’s difficult to square up.

For Dodgers fans, that dominance offers both intrigue and unease, especially with Greene lined up for Game 1. He held opponents to a .207 batting average in 2025, neutralizing power threats with surprising consistency. The Reds may not match Los Angeles dollar-for-dollar, but they wield a rotation that fits October’s unforgiving script. And with Greene soaring at precisely the right moment, every pitch promises the possibility of a stunning upset.

The Dodgers may own the past meetings, but October tends to laugh at regular-season resumes. Cincinnati, with Hunter Greene setting the tone, suddenly looks like a team nobody wants visiting. The Reds have carried decades of drought into Dodger Stadium, yet they bring thunder instead of thirst. If Los Angeles blinks first, this series might belong to Cincinnati faster than history can protest.

Hunter Greene is not the only problem the Dodgers are going to face

The postseason rarely goes according to script, and the Dodgers should know that better than anyone. Yes, they’ve beaten the Reds six times this year, but October turns head-to-head records into confetti. Cincinnati’s revival, led by Hunter Greene’s blistering fastball, isn’t just about one arm or one storyline. And that’s where the real concern for Los Angeles begins, because Greene is only the opening act.

Elly De La Cruz is the Reds’ brightest spark, stealing 37 bases while hitting 22 homers this season. His .776 OPS and full 162-game durability make him a constant threat in every Dodgers’ inning. Beyond De La Cruz, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Brady Singer have combined for a 2.87 to 4.03 ERA. Each starter brings a distinct style, forcing Dodgers hitters to adjust constantly under postseason pressure and spotlight.

Adding to the tension, Graham Ashcraft and Nick Martinez have held Shohei Ohtani hitless in their combined eighteen plate appearances. Closer Emilio Pagan anchors a bullpen with 32 saves and a 2.88 ERA, thriving in high-leverage situations. Tony Santillan and Connor Phillips offer depth, limiting opponents to a combined .200 average in late innings. With young firepower and veteran savvy, the Reds’ pitching staff turns every at-bat into a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat moment.

If the Dodgers underestimate De La Cruz or Greene, Chavez Ravine could feel genuinely unpredictable this week. Terry Francona’s mix of youth and savvy ensures Cincinnati’s threats extend far beyond just pitching. Los Angeles fans might hope for comfort, but the Reds’ firepower guarantees tension in every inning. October reminds everyone, even Kershaw-era Dodgers, that regular-season dominance rarely survives the playoff spotlight unscathed.