Dodgers have a chance for playoffs with help from Reds

By Matt Wilhalme

Oct. 2, 2012 12 AM PT

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”ORSPT000015”&amp;gt;Los Angeles Dodgers&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt;’ playoff hopes aren’t dead yet, but they are certainly dwindling.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The Times’ Dodgers writers Dylan Hernandez and Steve Dilbeck explained the team’s playoff chances and what happened this season in a Google+ hangout on Tuesday.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;“It’s a bit of a longshot,” said Hernandez explaining how the Dodgers’ fate is no longer in their own hands.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;For the Dodgers to make the playoffs they have to win both of their remaining two games against the &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”ORSPT000025”&amp;gt;San Francisco Giants&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt;, who they face at home Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Wednesday at 4:15 p.m. Pacific time.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Additionally, the &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”ORSPT000027”&amp;gt;St. Louis Cardinals&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt; must lose their last two games of the regular season against the &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”ORSPT000008”&amp;gt;Cincinnati Reds&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt; for the Dodgers to force a one-game playoff Thursday against the Cardinals for the second of two &amp;lt;runtime:topic id=”15007002”&amp;gt;National League&amp;lt;/runtime:topic&amp;gt; wild-card spots.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Dilbeck noted that had the Dodgers hit to expectations they would have been in first place or at least in control of the wild-card race.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;“The cold, hard fact is they did not hit,” Dilbeck said.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;ALSO:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=”https://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-1002-dodgers-giants-20121002,0,1182924.story”&amp;gt;Dodgers win, gain no ground in playoff chase&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=”https://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-1002-simers-dodgers-giants-20121002,0,1753030.column”&amp;gt;Andre Ethier tries to make talk about lefties right&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;a href=”https://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/dodgers/la-sp-1002-dodgers-notes-20121002,0,6538492.story”&amp;gt;Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley looks to 2013, and hopes&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;

Dodgers have a chance for playoffs with help from Reds

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