Dodgers starting Shohei Ohtani against Phillies in Game 1 of NLDSThe Reds taking the Dodgers to a third game, besides giving themselves a chance to advance to the NLDS, would have also helped out the Phillies immensely. Ohtani, the two-way unicorn and the best player on the planet, was penciled in to pitch Game 3 of the Wild Card Series on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/YdwcNbTBMa — Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 17, 2025The Reds certainly could have given the Phillies a slight reprieve by winning Game 2. Although Phillies hitters would have had to face Ohtani at some point during the NLDS even if it wasn't in Game 1. Now their fate is sealed and Ohtani will line up against Phillies emergent ace Cristopher Sánchez in Game 1 of the best-of-five NLDS.