The Los Angeles Dodgers are back in the National League Division Series for a 13th consecutive year and awaiting them is the Philadelphia Phillies, who have home-field advantage.
The Phillies finished with the No. 2 record in the NL to earn a first-round postseason bye that the Dodgers have enjoyed for several of their October runs. But inconsistency and struggles throughout the season left the Dodgers with the third-best record among division winners in the NL.
They conquered the Wild Card Series by sweeping the Cincinnati Reds to set the stage for a highly-anticipated showdown with the Phillies.
While the Dodgers knew the opponent that awaited them and the NLDS schedule, start times at Citizen Bank Park and Dodger Stadium were not set.
Specifically with Game 1 on Saturday, as MLB announced that was dependent on the outcome of the American League Wild Card matchup between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees.
With the Yankees winning Game 3 at Yankee Stadium, first pitch between the Dodgers and Phillies is going to be 3:38 p.m. PT. Had the Red Sox won, the NLDS would’ve had a 3:08 p.m. start time.
Shohei Ohtani is making his postseason pitching debut in Game 1 and the Phillies are countering with Cristopher Sánchez.
The Phillies won four of six head-to-head meetings with the Dodgers during the regular season. Included in that was taking two of three at Dodger Stadium in the middle of September to maintain a strong hold of the No. 2 seed in the NL postseason bracket.
“Very talented ballclub. It’s going to be a fun environment. I think we match up really well with those guys,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “They’re going to run a bunch of left-handers at us, talented all throughout the lineup, they got Trea back. It’s going to be a fun series.”
The 2025 NLDS marks a sixth postseason series the Dodgers and Phillies have played.
Dodgers vs. Phillies NLDS start times and schedule
Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4, 3:08 or 3:38 p.m. PT, Citizens Bank Park (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 6, 3:08 p.m., Citizens Bank Park (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 8, 6:08 p.m., Dodger Stadium (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
Game 4*: Thursday, Oct. 9, 3:08 p.m. or 4:08 p.m., Dodger Stadium (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
Game 5*: Saturday, Oct. 11, 5:08 p.m., Citizens Bank Park (TBS/truTV/HBO Max)
*if necessary
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