The Los Angeles Dodgers will host the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of their National League Wild Card series on Tuesday night. The Dodgers are heavy favorites going into this series opener at home. They will look to start off their title defense the right way, while the Reds can play like they have nothing to lose as the underdogs. Before the first pitch is thrown at Dodger Stadium, continue reading to get my Reds vs Dodgers Game 1 prediction.
Our Reds vs Dodgers Game 1 Pick
- Pick: Reds +1.5
- Confidence: 3/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Cincinnati Reds @ Los Angeles Dodgers
- Date & Time: Tuesday, September 30, 2025, 9:08 PM ET
- Starting Pitchers: Hunter Greene (Reds) vs Blake Snell (Dodgers)
- Stadium: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
- Broadcast: ESPN
Key Storylines
Pitching matchup
- Blake Snell will get the start for the Dodgers in Game 1. He posted a 2.35 ERA over 11 regular-season starts and has averaged 6.5 strikeouts per appearance in 2025. In the postseason, the Dodgers hope he can deliver length so as not to get into their bullpen too early in this series.
- Hunter Greene has been electric at times this season for the Reds. He has struck out 132 batters in 107.2 innings with a 2.76 ERA. He’ll need one of his best performances of the season to upset the Dodgers in their home ballpark to open the postseason.
Key Players
- Shohei Ohtani: While not pitching tonight, Ohtani’s bat and presence in the Dodgers’ lineup remain a major threat in this series.
- Elly De La Cruz: De La Cruz is Cincinnati’s sparkplug, capable of creating havoc on the bases and getting extra-base hits.
Recent team streaks
- The Dodgers finished the regular season with five consecutive wins.
- Cincinnati won three of its final four games in the regular season to lock up a playoff berth via tiebreaker over the New York Mets.
Best Player Props
| Player | Prop |
|---|---|
| Blake Snell | Over 5.5 Strikeouts |
| Hunter Greene | Over 5.5 Strikeouts |
| Shohei Ohtani | Under 1.5 Total Bases |
Betting Trends & H2H
- The Dodgers went 5-1 against the Reds this year.
- Five of the six games between these teams in the regular season were decided by two runs or more.
- Cincinnati went 38-43 on the road during the regular season.
- The Dodgers enter the playoffs with a 52-29 record at home.
Reds vs Dodgers Game 1 Model Projection
Score Projection: Reds 3 – Dodgers 4
Win Probability: Reds 35%, Dodgers 65%
Final Thoughts
I fully expect the Dodgers to win Game 1 of this series at home. But I think that the Reds will cover the runline as an underdog. Greene should help the Reds to stay competitive in this contest, as he has been one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball this season. The Dodgers will come away with the victory, but the Reds will keep it within a run and cash for us on the runline.
