Securing a postseason berth for the 14th consecutive year was already a done deal for the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, with their 8-2 triumph over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, they captured the NL West crown for the 13th time during this stretch, marking their fifth consecutive division title.
Naturally, the postseason is where the Dodgers face their most significant challenge. They are striving to secure their third consecutive World Series championship, a feat not accomplished since the legendary New York Yankees achieved their historic three-peat from 1998 to 2000.
Following Thursday’s win, the Dodgers (93-60) boast the second-best record in the National League. They trail only the Milwaukee Brewers (95-58), who secured the NL Central title earlier in the week but fell to the Pirates in their Thursday series finale. Over the final week of the regular season, both clubs will battle for the top overall seed in the NL.
In the meantime, the Dodgers must navigate and resolve several health concerns across their roster before the playoffs commence in October. In particular, close attention will be paid to Shohei Ohtani’s physical condition, as the versatile superstar has been battling a combination of issues involving his left knee, biceps, and neck.
Additionally, left-handed starter Blake Snell is sidelined with a groin strain, an injury that forced an early exit from his Wednesday start against Cincinnati after pitching only a single frame.
Outfielder Andy Pages is projected to rejoin the Dodgers’ lineup in the near future, though it remains to be seen how rapidly he can rediscover his rhythm following his recovery from a broken left hand.
Relief pitching and a quick offensive surge lock up the NL West crown in Cincinnati
The Dodgers did not require a frontline starting pitcher to clinch the division on Thursday. Manager Dave Roberts, who has now guided the franchise to 10 of its NL West titles during this historic era, chose to utilize a bullpen game instead.
Left-hander Justin Wrobleski set the tone with three scoreless innings of work, recording the afternoon’s first strikeout of Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who ultimately struck out three times in the contest. Cincinnati’s only run of the game came during the fourth inning, courtesy of a Sal Stewart home run off Dodgers righty Blake Treinen.
Subsequently, right-handed pitcher Landon Knack tossed four shutout frames while yielding four hits. Seth Halvorsen closed out the victory, though he surrendered one final Cincinnati run in the bottom of the ninth.
That late run did little to threaten the Dodgers’ substantial advantage, which was established early on through several key extra-base hits. Kyle Tucker launched a two-run home run in the opening frame before driving in another run with a double in the second. Later, in the fourth inning, Max Muncy delivered a two-run double to extend the lead.
Both squads exchanged runs in the final frame, highlighted by Miguel Rojas hitting a solo home run to put the finishing touches on the Dodgers’ division-clinching win.
