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."

As recently as Sept. 16, the Reds were a game under .500. They won eigh

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