If you look at the NL standings today, you see a massive gap in payroll. You see the Los Angeles Dodgers sitting on a mountain of star power and the Cincinnati Reds trying to ignite a spark with young, lightning-fast talent. It feels like a mismatch. Honestly, on paper, it usually is.
But baseball has this weird way of ignoring bank accounts.
When these two teams share a field, the air gets a bit thinner. There's a history here that most modern fans forget—a time in the 1970s when the "Big Red Machine" and the Dodgers were essentially the only two teams that mattered in the National League West. Back then, they traded division titles like Pokémon cards. That old-school friction hasn't totally evaporated; it just changed shape.
The 2025 Postseason Clash: A Reality Check
Most people expected the Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds 2025 Wild Card Series to be a formality. It wasn't. While the Dodgers eventually swept the series 2-0, the games were a masterclass in why you can't sleep on Cincinnati.
Game 1 was a chaotic 10-5 affair at Dodger Stadium. Shohei Ohtani, on his way to a record-breaking MVP season, did exactly what $700 million players are supposed to do. He launched a two-run homer that nearly cleared the pavilion. But the Reds didn't blink. They forced the Dodgers to burn through their bullpen early, proving that even a juggernaut can be made to sweat.
The second game was where things got truly interesting. Roki Sasaki, the Japanese phenom, made his postseason debut in the ninth inning. Watching him face off against Gavin Lux—who, ironically, was wearing a 2024 World Series ring he’d just received from the Dodgers—was one of those "only in baseball" moments. Sasaki looked human for a second, but ultimately, the Dodgers' depth was too much. They moved on to Philadelphia, leaving the Reds with a "what if" that still stings in the Queen City.
Elly De La Cruz: The Chaos Factor
If there is one person who makes the Dodgers' coaching staff lose sleep, it’s Elly De La Cruz.
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The kid is a glitch in the matrix. During a mid-summer series in 2024, Elly went 4-for-4 with four stolen bases in a single game. You’ve got to understand how demoralizing that is for a pitcher. He doesn’t just take second; he takes your dignity.
The Dodgers have all the analytics in the world. They have heat maps and spin rate data for every blade of grass. But you can't calculate 30 feet per second. When De La Cruz gets on base, the Dodgers’ infield starts playing nervous. They know he’s going. They know they can’t stop him. It creates this frantic energy that levels the playing field, making a small-market team like the Reds feel like giants for nine innings.
Key Stats from Recent Matchups
- Shohei Ohtani (2025 Regular Season): .282 AVG, 55 HR, 102 RBI. Against the Reds, he historically slashes over .300.
- Hunter Greene: The Reds' ace is one of the few humans capable of matching the Dodgers' velocity. His fastball-slider-splitter combo is specifically built to neutralize lefties like Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.
- The 1970s Legacy: Between 1970 and 1979, the Reds or Dodgers won the NL West title in nine out of ten years. That’s a level of dominance we rarely see today.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Matchup
The biggest misconception is that the Dodgers just "buy" these wins. Sure, the payroll helps. Having Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto is a nice safety net. But the Reds actually held their own in 2024, winning the season series in Cincinnati.
Small-market teams like the Reds survive on "vigor and heart," as fans on Reddit like to put it. They play a more aggressive, high-risk brand of baseball. They bunt. They steal. They take the extra base. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are a surgical machine. They wait for you to make a mistake, and then they punish you with a three-run homer. It’s a clash of philosophies: the Street Fighter versus the Grandmaster.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
If you're planning your 2026 calendar, circle September 7.
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The Dodgers are hosting the Reds for a Labor Day showdown at Dodger Stadium. It’s the start of a three-game series that could have massive playoff implications. By September, the Dodgers are usually fine-tuning for October, while the Reds are often fighting for their lives in a crowded NL Central.
Later that same month, the Dodgers head to Great American Ball Park on September 14. That stadium is a literal launching pad. If Ohtani is chasing another record, or if the Reds' young core has finally matured, those games will be mandatory viewing.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're betting on or just watching these games, keep these three things in mind:
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- Watch the Lefty/Righty Splits: The Dodgers love to platoon. If the Reds start a lefty like Nick Lodolo, expect the Dodgers to stack the lineup with guys like Teoscar Hernández, who mashes southpaws.
- The Elly Effect: If De La Cruz gets on base in the first inning, the Reds win probability jumps significantly. He changes the way the Dodgers pitch to the entire lineup.
- Bullpen Depth: The Reds' bullpen, bolstered by prospects like Chase Burns, has become a legitimate weapon. In 2025, they were top five in the NL in strikeout rate. If a game is tied in the 7th, don't assume the Dodgers have the edge.
The beauty of the Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds matchup isn't just in the names on the jerseys. It’s in the contrast. It’s the coastal elite versus the midwestern underdog. It’s a rivalry that refuses to die because, at the end of the day, a 100-mph fastball looks exactly the same whether it’s thrown in L.A. or Ohio.
Keep an eye on the injury reports leading into the September 2026 series. Specifically, check the status of the Dodgers' rotation, as their depth has been tested every season for the last three years. If you're attending a game at Great American Ball Park, sit near the visitors' dugout—the Dodgers' stars are surprisingly accessible during warmups in small-market cities. For the best tactical analysis, follow FanGraphs or Baseball-Reference live during the series to see how the "Win Probability" swings with every Elly De La Cruz stolen base attempt.