The Philadelphia Phillies are set to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division Series (NLDS) starting Saturday (October 4) at Citizens Bank Park. The Dodgers secured their spot by defeating the Cincinnati Reds 8-4, sweeping the National League Wild Card Series. This marks the first postseason meeting between the Phillies and Dodgers since 2009.
Both teams come into the series with strong rosters. The Dodgers, led by NL MVP front-runner Shohei Ohtani, also boast former MVPs Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts. Meanwhile, the Phillies counter with two-time MVP Bryce Harper and 2025 NL batting champion Trea Turner. According to MLB.com, the Phillies and Dodgers are the two winningest teams in the majors since 2023, with the Dodgers having won 304 games and the Phillies 290, including postseason victories.
Game One will feature a pitching matchup between Dodgers' right-hander Shohei Ohtani and Phillies' left-hander Cristopher Sánchez. Ohtani, making his postseason pitching debut, ended the regular season with a 2.87 ERA. Sánchez, who emerged as an ace-caliber pitcher for the Phillies, finished with a 2.50 ERA and ranked among the top pitchers in several categories.
The Dodgers are looking to defend their World Series title, having won two of the past five championships, while the Phillies aim to capture their first title since 2008. The game will be broadcast on TBS, with the start time dependent on the outcome of the American League Wild Card Series between the Yankees and Red Sox.