The Los Angeles Dodgers will open their pursuit of a third consecutive World Series title on Saturday, October 3, at Dodger Stadium.
They will face the winner of the National League Wild Card Series between the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.
Los Angeles secured the National League's No. 2 seed and a first-round playoff bye after finishing the regular season with a 100-62 record.
The Dodgers hold home-field advantage for the best-of-five NLDS, hosting Games 1 and 2 before the series shifts to Atlanta or Philadelphia for Game 3 on Tuesday, October 6.
Roberts Focuses on Conditions Over Opponent
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said playing conditions and start times matter more than choosing a preferred opponent between the two division rivals.
"I would prefer to play at night, but as far as who we play, I don't think we really care.
It's going to be a hot weekend, and to play at night would certainly be more beneficial," Roberts said.
Temperatures near Dodger Stadium are projected to reach 99°F during the opening weekend.
Game 1 scheduling depends on the outcome of other series matchups, with afternoon start times presenting potential challenges involving high heat, shadows, and field glare.
Roberts acknowledged the familiarity and parity between the NL East powerhouses.
"Obviously, when you start the season, those two teams were probably picked to be 1-2 in the East.
And they're very familiar with one another, so it's going to be a good series. … All bets are off when you play within the division," he said.
During the 2026 regular season, the Dodgers compiled a 4-2 record against the Phillies with a plus-11 run differential.
Los Angeles struggled against the Braves, dropping five of six meetings and posting a minus-9 run differential.
Veteran infielder Freddie Freeman noted that the five-day break serves as a vital recovery window after six months of continuous competition.
"Rest for all of us is always nice. We've been grinding since February, getting ready for the season.
Then you go through a 162-game schedule. It's a lot.
So we played really good baseball for six straight months and we get rewarded for that.
So we'll take it in, rest up and get ourselves ready to go for Saturday," Freeman said.
The Dodgers enter October driven by strong late-season production from outfielders Mookie Betts, Andy Pages, and Teoscar Hernández.
Betts batted . 337 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs in September, while Hernández hit .
341 with four home runs during the same month.
If Los Angeles advances past the NLDS, the best-of-seven NL Championship Series is scheduled to begin on Sunday, October 11.
