Dodgers and Reds open Wild Card series with two Cy Young winners: lefty Snell faces fireballer Greene.

The defending champion Dodgers have named Cy Young lefty Blake Snell as their Game 1 starter to face the Reds, marking Snell’s postseason debut with the team. Meanwhile, the Reds designated Hunter Greene as their opening pitcher. Greene’s outstanding 9-inning, 1-0 shutout against the Cubs in mid-September was pivotal in keeping the Reds in the Wild Card hunt, establishing him as an essential part of their advancement.

The Wild Card series is a best-of-three format. The Dodgers’ rotation also includes Yusei Kikuchi, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani, aiming for two straight wins to preserve their valuable pitching resources.

Snell has battled shoulder inflammation this season, appearing in only 11 games with a 5-4 record and a 2.35 ERA. Last season, he pitched for the Giants before signing a five-year, $182 million deal with the Dodgers this year. His most notable postseason outing was in the 2020 World Series, where he started Game 6 for the Rays against the Dodgers, allowing just one run over 5.1 innings but was pulled early by the manager, leading to a Dodgers comeback.

For Game 2, the Dodgers are expected to start their Japanese ace Yusei Kikuchi. If the series goes to Game 3, the “two-way” Shohei Ohtani will take on the crucial deciding game.

As for the “Beast” Clayton Kershaw, he will not be included on the Wild Card roster. Roberts stated, “Kershaw only pitched in the final regular-season game, so he will not appear in the Wild Card series.”