In an abbreviated 144-game regular season schedule, the Dodgers won the realigned West division on the final Sunday by winning at San Diego. That meant the Dodgers would open against Cincinnati in the brand-new Division Series round, rather than against the vaunted Atlanta team that was continually adding to its autumn arsenal. As it turned out, it did not make much difference.

Like Atlanta did in its NLDS against Colorado, the Reds won the first two games on the road, as home-field "advantage" meant having to play your last three at home in the best-of-five series. Eventually that format would be changed, as it was seen less as an advantage over time. In the Dodgers' case, they actually out-hit the Reds, 31-29, but only the middle game was close, as Jeff Brantley got the save in the bottom of the ninth after allowing Eric Karros a two-run homer.

On Oct. 6, 1995, the Reds crushed the Dodgers, 10-1. It would be the last home postseason victory in decades for tradition-rich Cincinnati.

Path to the NLDS: Cincinnati (85-59) won the NL Central by nine games; Los Angeles (78-66) won the NL West by one game?

Managers: Davey Johnson, CIN; Tommy Lasorda, LAD