Dodgers Nation Podcast Network

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Welcome to Dodgers Nation Live: Wild Card Edition! Aaron Coloma and Nelson Espinal preview the Dodgers' first postseason series during the Wild Card round. The Braves and Phillies are in Game 1 as they talk, and the question is which team the Dodgers should prefer to face in the NLDS.

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Nelson wants the Braves: Espinal argues the Phillies are the more complete, playoff-built team, with a better rotation, contact-heavy hitters and experience. He also says the Dodgers can't count on beating the same team two years in a row. Beating the Braves would also be a "monkey off the back" moment for this Dodgers era.

Aaron wants the Phillies: Coloma worries about Braves stars Matt Olson, Ronald Acuña Jr. and Chris Sale, who threw a complete-game shutout against the Dodgers a month earlier. He thinks Harper and Schwarber are past their peaks, and that the Braves' struggles against left-handed pitching favor the Dodgers.

Regular season vs. postseason: Aaron points out the Dodgers won the season series against the Phillies but the Braves ran over them. Nelson throws out regular-season results, citing how the Brewers beat the Dodgers in the regular season last year and then lost to them in the playoffs. The chat poll favors the Phillies, and it ends at 72% Phillies.

Last year's Phillies series: Nelson argues the Dodgers are better defensively and in bullpen depth compared to last year's NLDS, which included Sasaki's late-inning dominance in Game 2 and the home-plate error that sealed the series. The Phillies' high-powered offenses often fade in October, thanks largely to former Dodgers coach Don Mattingly's postseason tactics.

Other postseason threats: The panel discuss the Cubs (with doubts about their pitching and Pete Crow-Armstrong's lack of October track record) and the Padres. Aaron calls the Padres the biggest NL threat because of their hot second half. Nelson says the Phillies are the biggest threat and that the Dodgers look much stronger than last year, especially the bullpen and defense.

World Series predictions: Nelson picks a Dodgers–Yankees World Series, expecting Aaron Judge to return and calling the AL weak. Aaron thinks the Red Sox beat a Judge-less Yankees team, and he rates the Rays as a Brewers-like surprise team that falls short of the Yankees.

Roster debate: Aaron doesn't think Hyeseong Kim makes the NLDS roster and prefers Alex Call as an outfield option. Nelson likes Kim as a bench option. They note Alex Freeland (named as "Alex Thomas" in the transcript) is ineligible after electing free agency, and they discuss Emmet Sheehan and Bobby Miller as long-relief candidates.

Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman slumps: Aaron isn't worried and says both will break out. Nelson believes the Dodgers can lean on a hot Mookie Betts, good pitching and defense, and Ohtani still getting on base.

Will Josue De Paula make the postseason roster? Josue De Paula could make the roster as a pinch-hitter with a 12-pitcher configuration. Nelson praises his on-base ability but questions his defense. The show closes with the Phillies winning the poll, and Nelson still says he'd rather face the Braves.

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On this Tuesday morning edition of Dodgers Dougout Live, Doug McKain previews what LA's NLDS roster will look like, 10 questions LA will need to answer, the latest on Josue De Paula and more!

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On this Sunday night edition of Dodgers Dougout Live, Doug McKain reacts to Blake Treinen's season likely being over, LA reaching 100 wins on the season, the possibility of Hyeseing Kim making the postseason roster and more!

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On this Thursday night edition of Dodgers Dougout Live, Doug McKain discusses the Dodgers' heartbreaking loss to the Padres, Shohei Ohtani's improvement, the Josue De Paula roster move, and more!

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Dodgers lose to the Padres, but Doug McKain teases key postseason roster updates from Dave Roberts, encouraging data on Shohei Ohtani, and exclusive clubhouse sound.

Dodgers vs Padres Game Recap: Tyler Glasnow was dominant (6 IP, 11 K, flirted with a no-hitter), but the offense stalled, falling 4-2 to San Diego and going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Shohei Ohtani comeback performance: Despite the loss, Ohtani went 2-for-5 with an RBI double, posting elite exit velocity (101.9 mph) and bat speed (75.9 mph) — his best mechanical look since June, seen as a major positive for the postseason.

Silver lining: The Dodgers (97-62) clinched the NL's No. 2 seed and a first-round bye, avoiding the Wild Card round and setting up a home NLDS series against the Braves/Phillies winner.

Roster debate: DMAC pushes back on fans wanting Josue De Paula over Shohei Ohtani, citing Andrew Friedman calling De Paula strictly a "DH" and De Paula's below-average (30-grade) outfield defense.

Josue De Paula's Triple-A run continues: Josue De Paula helped Oklahoma City win the PCL championship and will get more at-bats/defensive reps in the Triple-A championship before any postseason roster call.

Dave Roberts interview: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirms Shohei Ohtani's bat speed/quality is "really exciting," praises Edwin Diaz's recent outings as his best stretch back, and calls Glasnow a "big weapon" heading into October. Roberts hints the NLDS roster may carry 14 position players/12 pitchers (vs. more pitching in a 7-game NLCS), boosting speedster Hyeseong Kim's case for a bench spot.

Edwin Diaz postgame interview: Edwin Diaz credits a strong Triple-A rehab bullpen session for unlocking his mechanics, says he's "really happy" with his stuff and ready to pitch in high-leverage postseason spots.

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Dodgers optioned Josue De Paula. Josue De Paula was not optioned for performance-related issues. In 11 games, De Paula hit .323 with a .500 OBP, .581 SLG, and an elite 11 BB/5 K ratio, but lost his DH at-bats once Shohei Ohtani returned to the lineup.

Doug McKain explains the roster logic: The outfield, consisted of Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker, and Andy Pagès, has been productive. De Paula is still raw defensively, so there was no clear spot to play him in the field.

A third factor was evaluating Dalton Rushing as the lefty bench bat; since Dalton Rushing can't catch, the Dodgers needed De Paula's at-bats freed up to test him — and by rule, optioning Josue De Paula on 9/23 makes him eligible to return October 3, in time for NLDS Game 1.

DMAC frames the move as "roster chess," not a demotion. Josue De Paula "finished the job interview" and made his case. Andrew Friedman and Dave Roberts both praised him as a potential postseason piece.

RARE Andrew Friedman press conference: Andrew Friedman called this the first time all year the team's top nine were healthy together and said the focus for Ohtani is maximizing at-bats and rhythm before October. Friedman also complimented Teoscar Hernández's growth as a corner outfielder and confirmed De Paula "has done everything he can to put himself in the conversation" for the postseason roster.

Dodgers vs Padres Game recap: Dodgers lost 5-1 to the Padres, snapping a 5-game win streak, despite out-hitting San Diego 10-1 (1-for-9 with RISP). Freddie Freeman's slump flagged as a real concern (1 HR, 10 2B in his last 63 games); Manny Machado had some fun trash talking toward the Dodgers dugout.

Key turning point: Bases-loaded strikeout by Ohtani in the 4th after a walk call was overturned on replay; Padres tacked on runs via Yamamoto's uncharacteristically shaky outing.

Dave Roberts postgame: Dave Roberts praised Ohtani's swing quality and plate discipline in his return, and confirmed the Padres are a likely potential playoff opponent LA is already tracking closely.

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