The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their fifth consecutive NL West division title and 13th in the past 14 seasons on Thursday, beating the Cincinnati Reds 8-2 behind a four-hit night from Kyle Tucker.
Tucker fell a triple shy of the cycle, driving in three runs with a single, a pair of doubles and his 16th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the first inning off Reds starter Brady Singer. Singer lasted just 3 1/3 innings, giving up seven runs, nine hits and four walks.
The win pushed Los Angeles (93-60) to a 9 1/2-game lead over second-place San Diego. The Dodgers already had clinched a postseason berth on Monday and are now working on their 14th straight playoff appearance, one shy of tying the record Atlanta set from 1991 to 2005.
This year’s division clinch came earlier than the last three, trailing only Sept. 10 in 2019, Sept. 13 in 2022 and Sept. 16 in 2023 for the fourth-earliest in franchise history.
Freddie Freeman drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the second, and Tucker added an RBI double in the same inning. The Dodgers then broke the game open in the fourth with a two-run double from Max Muncy and an RBI single from Josue De Paula, building a 7-0 lead.
On the mound, left-hander Justin Wrobleski turned in his best outing of the year, retiring the first 11 batters he and reliever Blake Treinen faced and finishing three innings without allowing a baserunner while striking out three. He was making just his second start since Sept. 6 in his 22nd start of the season. Sal Stewart broke up the combined bid for a perfect start with his 32nd home run.
Landon Knack picked up the win in relief, throwing four scoreless innings on four hits for his first major league win since May 31, 2024. Miguel Rojas added a solo home run off Brandon Williamson in the ninth.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said reliever Edwin Diaz has finished his minor league rehab assignment for neck inflammation and will be activated from the injured list this weekend.
Los Angeles now turns its attention to the race for the top seed in the National League, sitting behind Milwaukee (95-57 entering Thursday) for home-field advantage. Right-hander Tyler Glasnow (4-1, 3.50 ERA) starts Friday against the San Francisco Giants, who counter with left-hander Cesar Perdomo (0-1, 3.68). The Reds, meanwhile, send right-hander Chase Burns (15-3, 2.80) to the mound Friday against the Chicago Cubs.
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