The Los Angeles Dodgers have secured their playoff berth for a 14th straight season, and they did it with a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. With a 91-59 record and 12 games left in the regular season, they are guaranteed at least a wild card series spot as they chase a third straight World Series title.
The Dodgers snapped a slide with a victory in which Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernandez both went deep, ending a downturn that came after their biggest lead ever at the All-Star break.
The Road to the Playoffs
Before the midseason break, the Dodgers held a 11.5-game lead over Arizona in the NL West, a position that seemed secure at the time. Their advantage did not endure, however. A run of poor play followed, and the club that had appeared so strong through the opening stretch began to falter.
The two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani has been slowed by injuries. He will not be pitching again this season, and his hitting has cooled since then. Despite that, the Dodgers have kept winning through their depth.
The Chase for the Top Seed
The Dodgers find themselves in contention for one of the National League’s top-two seeds, a finish that grants first-round byes along with hosting duties in the division series. They are not alone in that chase, as the Milwaukee Brewers are also locked into post-season play.
The Braves, from the NL East, are the team most likely to challenge for that top-two position.
| Team | Record | Playoff Status | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 91-59 | Clinched | Top-two seed |
| Milwaukee Brewers | — | Assured | Top-two seed |
| Atlanta Braves | — | In the hunt | Top-two seed |
The Prize at Stake
The Dodgers sit atop the odds to win a third straight championship, having defeated the New York Yankees in the 2024 World Series and the Toronto Blue Jays in last season’s title round. The team has since bolstered its roster with outfielder Kyle Tucker during the off-season and added two-time Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Tarik Skubal just last month.
A repeat title this season would make them the first National League club ever to win the World Series for three straight years. It would also mark the first time since the Yankees did it from 1998-2000.
What Comes Next
Los Angeles has returned its season-high string of eight consecutive wins, a mark it first reached earlier this year. The run has now put the club back atop the NL West.
The Dodgers haven’t reached the postseason yet, but they’re already guaranteed a spot in the wild card series. A run of eight straight victories demonstrates that when the team plays its best baseball, it’s hard to beat.
Concerns about Ohtani’s injuries are valid, yet the roster surrounding him is strong enough to handle the strain. Tucker and Hernandez have stepped up in the lineup to answer the call.
The next three weeks will show whether this is a group capable of victory. For now, it stands as a team assembled with winning in mind.
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