The Dodgers are going back to October. Again.
Los Angeles clinched its 14th consecutive postseason berth on Monday night with a 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The win puts the Dodgers at 91-59 with 12 games left in the regular season, tying the Major League Baseball record for most consecutive playoff appearances.
The Dodgers achieved what they had planned for: their pitching did the work. Skubal went seven scoreless innings, giving up three hits and a single walk while striking out nine.
Skubal’s Best Start Since Joining the Dodgers
The Dodgers got exactly what they wanted when they acquired Skubal — a Cy Young-caliber pitcher — and he delivered it in a hurry. He needed just 90 pitches, 61 for strikes, to put together a dominant showing. Across six innings, he gave up three hits and struck out eight batters, retiring the Reds in order in the sixth on just six pitches.
The final score saw him record nine strikeouts, the kind of performance the Dodgers hope will become commonplace once October rolls around.
And the offense gave him more than enough support.
Tucker and Hernández Power the Attack
In the second inning, Kyle Tucker got the scoring going with a solo home run, marking his 15th of the campaign. That blast was his third in his last five contests, which suggests his bat is getting hot at precisely the right moment.
The Dodgers extended their lead in the fourth.
Tucker worked a walk, and Teoscar Hernández responded with a two-run homer that tied the game at 3-0. The Dodgers then took the lead for good in the seventh inning when Kiké Hernández lined an RBI single to make it a four-run margin.
For most of the night, that was more than enough.
The Ninth Inning Reminder
Before the ninth, the Dodgers held a 4-0 lead over their opponents. However, the last frame offered a warning about one problem that remains unresolved and will need fixing before the postseason arrives.
Evan Phillips gave up a home run to Elly De La Cruz, who sent a moonshot into the air, putting Cincinnati on the scoreboard and showing that the back end of the Dodgers’ bullpen is still far from settled.
Rotation Trio Looks Strong
Throughout the campaign, the Dodgers’ pitching corps has endured a steady stream of injuries and doubt. Now, however, the starting rotation seems to be finding form just when the club needs it most.
The trio of Skubal, Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto has the potential to make the postseason lineup nearly impossible for opponents to handle.
The issue at hand is whether the pitching corps beyond those two aces can be brought up to the same level of performance.
Roster Moves Ahead of the Stretch
On Monday, before the game began, the Dodgers made a series of roster changes in preparation for the last portion of their regular season. Edgardo Henriquez went on the injured list because of lower-back discomfort, and Emmet Sheehan was sent down to the minors. Bobby Miller and Paul Gervase came up from the alternate training site instead.
A scan is planned to establish the nature of Henriquez’s injury, with the Dodgers still holding onto hope he can make it back for the postseason.
What the Streak Means
The Dodgers are officially headed into October once more. A run of fourteen straight seasons. An MLB-record-tying stretch. And with Skubal throwing like this, the Dodgers may reach October with their most crucial player finally performing at precisely the right moment.
Comparing the Rotation Trio
| Pitcher | Role | Recent Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Tarik Skubal | Starter | Nine strikeouts in seven innings |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | Starter | Part of the rotation’s strong late-season run |
| Blake Snell | Starter | Part of the rotation’s strong late-season run |
Key Facts at a Glance
- The Dodgers won 4-1 over the Reds.
- They are 91-59 with 12 games remaining.
- They tied the MLB record for most consecutive playoff appearances (14).
- Skubal threw seven innings with nine strikeouts and three hits allowed.
- Tucker hit his 15th home run of the season.
- De La Cruz homered off Phillips in the ninth.
- Henriquez went on the injured list with lower-back discomfort.
The Dodgers have returned to October, and they have done so for a fourteenth straight season, tying an MLB record in the process. Skubal’s pitching has been a major reason for that success, and he appears to be performing at his best when it matters most.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.