The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched a spot in the 2026 postseason with a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, September 14. It is the franchise's 14th consecutive playoff appearance, tying the record the Atlanta Braves set across 1991 through 2005, MLB.com reported.
How they clinched
Tarik Skubal worked seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out nine. Kyle Tucker homered in the second inning and Teoscar Hernandez added another, both off Reds starter Nick Lodolo.
Skubal has been a Dodger for six weeks. Los Angeles acquired the two-time reigning AL Cy Young winner from the Detroit Tigers on August 2, sending outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-handers River Ryan and Brady Smith to Detroit. He is a free agent at the end of this season, which made the trade a two-month rental.
Where the Dodgers stand
Los Angeles is 91-59, per the AP, and holds a nine-game lead over the second-place San Diego Padres in the NL West, per MLB.com, with a three-and-a-half-game lead over Atlanta for the National League's second seed. The Associated Press reported that the team trails Milwaukee by two games for the top seed and needs three more wins to secure a fifth straight division title. Twelve games remain. Freddie Freeman has been dealing with right knee soreness and Shohei Ohtani is on the 15-day injured list with right biceps inflammation, per the AP. Outfielder Andy Pages is out with a left hand fracture, per MLB.com.
The Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays had already clinched playoff spots before Monday.
The reaction
The Dodgers marked the clinch with a champagne toast, per the AP. Los Angeles is chasing a third consecutive World Series title after opening the season as the three-peat favorite.
"It's hard to say it ever feels routine, but it is the expectation here."
— Max Muncy, via the Associated Press
Manager Dave Roberts told the team it has "accomplished a lot up to this point, all the while not playing our best baseball," per MLB.com.
Source: MLB.com
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