Could the Dodgers play the Reds in the Wild Card game?

For most of the 2021 season, the conversation has been: The Dodgers or Giants will secure the #1 spot, and whichever team doesn’t will play the Padres in the Wild Card game. Well, not so fast… The Cincinnati Reds are now possibly in the running, thanks to some unlucky injuries and a tough final third schedule for the Padres. The Reds are now only 1.5 games behind the Padres. That seemed impossible in the early part of the season, but baseball seasons are long and injuries and odd travel schedules have a way of really messing with predictions.

Somehow I doubt those new odds will make the next three series the Dodgers have against the Padres any less intense. Zach Kram at The Ringer gives a comprehensive breakdown of the impact the remaining 2021 schedule will have on the playoff race.

And speaking of the next Dodgers-Padres series, both Tuesday and Wedsnesday’s games next week will air on ESPN. Dan Shulman and Eduardo Perez will call both games.

Other Dodgers News

Just why is Gavin Lux starting out at third base right now? Fabian Ardaya has some thoughts over at The Athletic.

Max Scherzer is crushing it on the mound. At the plate? Not as much. Mike Axisa at CBS Sports discusses Scherzer’s current .000 batting percentage.

From Dodger Stadium, starting this Friday for the home Mets game, the updated mask policy is as follows:

In accordance with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) order, all individuals ages two and older, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask or an appropriate face covering at all times at Dodger Stadium, except when actively eating or drinking in their ticketed seat or when seated at a table. As defined by the LACDPH order, actively eating or drinking is the limited time during which the mask can be removed briefly to eat or drink, after which it must be immediately put back on.