Reds playoff hype meets brutal reality of late-night Dodgers matchup

The Cincinnati Reds are gearing up for their first playoff game in a dozen years. The last time the Reds reached the MLB Postseason — during a 162-game season — was all the way back in 2013 when they were ousted by the Pittsburgh Pirates after just a one-game Wild Card Series.

Thankfully, things have changed since then, and the new playoff format features a three-game series. It won't be a picnic for the Reds, however, as their first opponents are the defending World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The stage is set for the Reds to pull off a shocker with Hunter Greene on the bump for Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. If Cincinnati could steal the first game of the three-game set, the Redlegs have a real chance to upend the Dodgers.

Reds Playoff Schedule: Broadcast details, announcers revealed for Dodgers series

It's going to be wall-to-wall playoff baseball coverage on Tuesday and Wednesday, so get your popcorn ready. Unfortunately for Reds fans, they'll have to stay up late to watch their favorite team attempt to dethrone the defending champs.

With the Reds out on the West Coast, it should come as no surprise that Cincinnati versus Los Angeles will represent the nightcap for the Wild Card round of the MLB playoffs. Below is the television and radio schedule for Reds-Dodgers matchup.

Game 1 of the 2025 NL Wild Card — Reds vs. Dodgers

• Date: Tuesday, September 30
• Time: 9:08 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN (Jon Sciambi, Doug Glanville with Alden Gonzalez reporting)
• Radio: 700 WLW (Tommy Thrall), ESPN Radio (Tom Hart and Tim Kurkjian)

Game 2 of the 2025 NL Wild Card — Reds vs. Dodgers

• Date: Wednesday, October 1
• Time: 9:08 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN (Jon Sciambi, Doug Glanville with Alden Gonzalez reporting)
• Radio: 700 WLW (Tommy Thrall), ESPN Radio (Tom Hart and Tim Kurkjian)

Game 3 of the 2025 NL Wild Card (if necessary) — Reds vs. Dodgers

• Date: Thursday, October 2
• Time: 9:08 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN (Jon Sciambi, Doug Glanville with Alden Gonzalez reporting)
• Radio: 700 WLW (Tommy Thrall), ESPN Radio (Tom Hart and Tim Kurkjian)

If the Reds are fortunate enough to advance past the Dodgers, they'll have a date with the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS. That series begins on Saturday at Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia.

Terry Francona's ball club has come up clutch time and time again this season, and will need to do so once again if they hope to take down the Dodgers this week. Cincinnati was just 1-5 against LA during the regular season, so they'll need to take a different approach during the NL Wild Card series if they have any hope of pulling off the upset.

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