Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction & Picks - MLB

Prediction published on 8/26/25, 6:54 PM  by Carlos Zabala | Modified on 10/2/25 at 6:09 PM in MLB Picks

An epic battle for the lead in the NL West division will unfold between the Dodgers and Padres heading into the regular season finale.

Throughout the season, when injuries plagued the starting pitching staff of Roberts's team, the offense responded. The Betts-Ohtani-Freeman combination, with Hernandez hitting as the top four in the lineup, has consistently worked from 2024, when they won the championship, to the present. However, Mookie's performance declined slightly in 2025, hitting only .248.

This may have played a role in the Dodgers not yet clinching their division at this point in the season. In the head-to-head with the Padres in San Diego, the Dodgers' bats didn't emerge until Game 3 to avoid a sweep, and there Betts had a remarkable game, going 3-for-4, while Freeman and Ohtani homered.

Now the Dodgers host the Reds, who are fighting for the last wild card, in Los Angeles. Veteran Kershaw will return to pitch in Game 2, having served as a lifeline to a starting rotation hobbled by injuries since his return. Incredibly, Kershaw already has an 8-2 record in 2025, having pitched 93.1 innings.