MLB Roundup: Shohei Ohtani Sparks Dodgers’ Rally vs. Padres

Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run home run in the first playoff game of his career and the host Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 7–5 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday in Game 1 of their National League Division Series.

Teoscar Hernandez delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the fourth as the Dodgers ended a six-game postseason losing streak that dated back to the 2022 NLDS, where they were eliminated by the Padres.

Five Los Angeles relievers combined for six scoreless innings, with Blake Treinen going 1 2/3 innings to earn the save, ending the game with a strikeout of Manny Machado with two runners on base. Ryan Brasier (1–0) earned the win by giving up one hit over 1 2/3 innings.

Verdugo reached base three times, doing so six days after delivering a go-ahead two-run single in the eighth of the Yankees' regular-season finale. Michael Lorenzen (0–1) gave up Verdugo's game-winner on Saturday to take the loss, while Clay Holmes (1–0) killed a Royals rally in the sixth and eventually got the win.

David Fry added a two-run double in the sixth inning as Cleveland cooled down the sixth-seeded Tigers, who stunned the No. 3 Houston Astros in the wild-card round. The No. 2 Guardians had a first-round bye.

Brandon Nimmo's RBI single off Matt Strahm snapped a 1–1 tie in the eighth after Mark Vientos delivered the tying run with a run-scoring single of his own. Pete Alonso, J.D. Martinez and Starling Marte also drove in runs in the inning for the Mets, who came from behind in the late innings for the third time in six days.

Kyle Schwarber hit a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first for the Phillies. Wheeler allowed a single hit over seven innings before giving way to Jeff Hoffman (0–1) to start the eighth. Reed Garrett (1–0) pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the win.