Dodgers clinch NL West title on September 17, fifth straight division crown

The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the 2026 NL West title on Thursday, September 17, defeating the Cincinnati Reds 8-2 at Great American Ball Park. The victory marked their fifth consecutive division championship and their 13th title in the past 14 years, per MLB.com reporting. Since divisional play began in 1969, the Dodgers lead all major league teams with 24 division titles. The Atlanta Braves hold 23, and the New York Yankees have 21, per the reporting. Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Josue De Paula, and Miguel Rojas also drove in runs. Justin Wrobleski pitched three perfect innings in a bullpen game, followed by Blake Treinen (who surrendered a solo home run in the fourth), Landon Knack (four scoreless innings), and Seth Halvorsen (who allowed a run in the ninth). The Dodgers hold a four-game lead over the Atlanta Braves for the No. 2 seed in the National League, per MLB.com. With nine games remaining in the regular season, the team remains depleted by injuries: Shohei Ohtani is on the 15-day IL, as is first-time All-Star Andy Pages. The six-man rotation the Dodgers carried for most of the season has been reduced to four fully stretched-out starters on the active roster, forcing the bullpen game to clinch. Tarik Skubal, acquired at the Trade Deadline, arrived as the Dodgers endured a season-high seven-game losing streak. The Dodgers won the World Series in 2024 and 2025, becoming the first team in a quarter-century to defend their title last year. Per MLB.com, a third consecutive championship would give baseball its first three-peat since the 1998-2000 Yankees. The organization is expecting reinforcements before the postseason, and a first-round bye would provide five days off following the regular season's end. Manager Dave Roberts stated, per MLB.com: "There is certainly a higher expectation when, if you don't win the World Series, you fail. But that's kind of part of what you signed up with the Dodgers."