LIVE: Reds-Dodgers NL Wild Card Series Game 1 (ESPN)

The Dodgers admitted to doing some scoreboard-watching on Sunday as the reigning World Series champions awaited their first-round opponent. Once the dust settled from Game 162, the Reds had edged the Mets for the final NL Wild Card spot.

Los Angeles' bid to become the first team in a quarter century to win back-to-back championships will begin with Cincinnati, making its first postseason appearance since 2020 -- and its first in a full season since 2013.

"You don’t play the game on paper, so we’ve got to have that edge we’ve talked about," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "They can pitch and they’re athletic. They’ve got a great manager who’s won a couple championships. We’ve got to be ready, and we are ready."

• Reds-Dodgers position-by-position breakdown

As recently as Sept. 16, the Reds were a game under .500. They won eight of their last 11 games to seize control of their destiny and set up a date with the Dodgers, who are playing in the Wild Card round for the first time since the best-of-three format was adopted in 2022.

"We have a fresh start," Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott said. "We know what we’ve got to do. Put our heads down and go to work. It’s not going to be easy. We know that.”

When is the game and how can I watch it?
First pitch for Game 1 of the Reds-Dodgers Wild Card Series is set for 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT on Tuesday at Dodger Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada.

Who are the probable starting pitchers?

Reds: Hunter Greene (7-4, 2.76 ERA)

A Los Angeles native, Greene will be in the postseason for the first time. Cincinnati's Opening Day starter, he brings triple-digit velocity and a strong slider. He missed over two months dealing with a mild right groin strain, which derailed what was a superb start to his season.

But after returning in August, Greene was 3-1 with a 2.81 ERA in eight starts in 48 innings. He walked 12 and struck out 59 in that stretch. Against the Dodgers earlier this season, he did not fare well. During a 7-0 loss on Aug. 25 at Dodger Stadium, he gave up five runs (three earned) over five innings, including a pair of homers to Andy Pages.

Dodgers: Blake Snell (5-4, 2.35 ERA)

Snell's most infamous postseason start -- Game 6 of the 2020 World Series -- came against the Dodgers. Now, he's set to take the ball in the playoffs for the first time with L.A.

After signing a five-year, $182 million deal to join the Dodgers this past offseason, Snell missed four months with a shoulder injury. Once he returned in August, the two-time Cy Young Award winner helped transform the Dodgers' rotation into arguably the team's biggest strength.

Snell did not face the Reds this year, but he tossed his first career no-hitter against them last year in Cincinnati while with the Giants. He last appeared in the postseason with the Padres in 2022.

What are the starting lineups?

Reds: It's often been a feast or famine offense this season for the Reds, who ranked 21st in MLB in home runs with 167. Over its last 12 games, Cincinnati was held to two or fewer runs seven times. But they often find a way to win, especially because of their pitching. Because the Dodgers are starting a lefty in Snell, lefty-hitting Gavin Lux wasn't in the Game 1 lineup. Expect to see the former Dodger enter the game if Los Angeles brings in a right-hander.

1. TJ Friedl, CF
2. Noelvi Marte, RF
3. Miguel Andujar, DH
4. Austin Hays, LF
5. Spencer Steer, 1B
6. Elly De La Cruz, SS
7. Tyler Stephenson, C
8. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
9. Matt McLain, 2B

Dodgers: The top five in the lineup shouldn't change much from night to night, led by the three MVPs: Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. There could be more variation among the bottom four, including some changes based on right-left splits. This figures to be the Dodgers' nearly full-strength lineup vs. a right-handed starter, with the exception of the injured Will Smith.

1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Mookie Betts, SS
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Max Muncy, 3B
5. Teoscar Hernández, RF
6. Tommy Edman, 2B
7. Andy Pages, CF
8. Kiké Hernández, LF
9. Ben Rortvedt, C

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?

Reds: Relievers really stepped up in the final weeks of the season -- especially the back-end guys. Emilio Pagán saved 32 games, and even pitched four days in a row on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday when it was sorely needed. Eighth-inning reliever Tony Santillan was second in MLB with 80 appearances. Graham Ashcraft has often been used in the seventh inning. There are good options to bridge the middle innings with swingman Nick Martinez, rookie flamethrower Chase Burns and Connor Phillips. All could pitch in leverage situations, if needed.

Dodgers: The veteran arms that L.A. expected to lean on in the late innings -- Tanner Scott and Blake Treinen -- were unreliable in the regular season. Alex Vesia has been steadier, but there are still questions surrounding the back end of the bullpen. That could force Roberts to lean on his younger, less experienced arms -- such as Jack Dreyer, Edgardo Henriquez, Emmet Sheehan and perhaps even Roki Sasaki -- in leverage.

• Sasaki makes Dodgers' WC roster after thriving in new bullpen role

Any injuries of note?

Reds: Hays missed six games with back spasms during the final week of the regular season. He was able to pinch-hit in the eighth inning and play defense on Sunday, which was a good sign that he can be ready for the playoffs. Left-hander Nick Lodolo, who had right groin soreness during his final start on Thursday and left early, appeared in relief on Sunday and looked to be healthy. But he will be used out of the bullpen during this round.

Dodgers: Smith's availability for the first round of the postseason remains up in the air as he recovers from a hairline fracture in his right hand. It is a possibility that the Dodgers could carry three catchers on the roster if he is close to a return, but not quite there yet. Muncy (lower body) and Edman (right ankle) are also playing through some lingering discomfort, although neither is expected to be compromised for Game 1.

Who is hot and who is not?

Reds: De La Cruz, who endured a massive home run drought in the summer, picked it up again with three homers over the last nine games and led the club with 22. Sal Stewart, who was called up on Sept. 1 to make his big league debut, led the team this month with five homers. Steer hit four homers over his previous 11 games. On the flip side, it's been a rough season for McLain, but especially lately. Over his final 12 games, he batted .132 (5-for-38) with 18 strikeouts.

Dodgers: Ohtani (slashed .312/.423/.742 in September, 14 2/3-inning scoreless streak) and Betts (.317/.376/.516 since Aug. 5) have built some momentum heading into the postseason. It has been an especially impressive turnaround for Betts, who weathered an extensive slump through the two-thirds of the season.

Since coming off the IL in early September, both Edman (.209/.222/.279) and Muncy (.118/.268/.294) have scuffled. If their nagging injuries worsen or their troubles at the plate continue, that could create opportunities for postseason standout Kiké Hernández.

Anything else fans might want to know?

• The last time the Dodgers played in the Wild Card round was 2021, one year before the format changed to a best-of-three series. They beat the Cardinals that year and advanced to the NL Championship Series, falling to the eventual World Series champion Braves.

• The Dodgers and Reds have only met once in the postseason. Cincinnati swept L.A. in the 1995 NL Division Series.