Dodgers Clinch NL West for 13th Time in 14 Seasons With Victory in Cincinnati

The Los Angeles Dodgers (93-60) secured the National League West title on Thursday with an 8-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their fifth consecutive National League West title and 13th in the past 14 seasons following an 8-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon. With a 93-60 record, the club secured its 14th straight postseason berth, tying the record held by the Atlanta Braves from 1991 to 2005. Freddie Freeman led the offense with two hits, following a three-hit performance on Tuesday that snapped a 3-for-30 slump.

Los Angeles currently holds a 3½-game lead over the Braves (89-64) for the National League's second seed but trails the Milwaukee Brewers (95-57) for the top spot. The victory marks the fourth-earliest division clinching in franchise history, trailing only the dates of Sept. 10 in 2019, Sept. 13 in 2022, and Sept. 16 in 2023. Since the All-Star break, the team has posted a 31-24 record after starting the year 61-36.

Several roster moves and injury updates coincide with the clinching. Closer Edwin Diaz is expected to be activated Friday following an IL stint for neck inflammation. Shohei Ohtani, sidelined since Sept. 8 with right biceps inflammation, took swings off a tee for the first time Tuesday. While Ohtani will not pitch again this season, he is expected to return as a hitter before the regular season concludes. Roki Sasaki is slated to start his next outing after throwing live batting practice Wednesday to recover from a finger blister.

Other health concerns persist as Blake Snell exited his Wednesday start after one inning due to left groin tightness. Setup man Edgardo Henriquez remains on the IL with a low back strain, and his rehabilitation is paused for several days. Trade deadline acquisition Tarik Skubal, who is 3-2 with a 2.52 ERA in eight starts for Los Angeles, remains a central part of the rotation as the two-time defending champions seek to become the first team since the 1998-2000 Yankees to win three consecutive World Series titles.