The Los Angeles Dodgers just rolled the Cincinnati Reds, beating them 8-2 in the finale of their four-game series at Great American Ball Park, and guess what? That win officially clinched their 13th National League West title in 14 years. It’s a champagne and beer shower for L.A., and a gut punch for a Reds squad that has become the league’s designated clinch-pad this season.
Dodgers’ Dynasty Rolls On (Even With Injuries)
This wasn’t just another win for the Dodgers; it was the third time in seven games an opponent clinched a postseason spot against the Reds, and the second time this week. Just three days before their division clincher, the Dodgers had already secured a playoff berth, celebrating with a low-key toast. This week’s series win meant they popped the bubbly for the division title right in Cincinnati’s visiting clubhouse. Talk about adding insult to injury! Less than a week before this, the Milwaukee Brewers also snagged their postseason clincher against the Reds in Milwaukee. The Dodgers have just been relentless against Cincinnati, outscoring them 41-15 across six of seven recent wins in an 11-day span. And get this: Shohei Ohtani was only in the first game of that stretch before hitting the injured list with a knee issue, and two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell left after the first inning in the only game the Reds actually won, thanks to groin tightness. Seriously, the Dodgers are just built different. They’ve owned the Reds, losing 11 of 13 overall since July 30 last season, a run that even includes a two-game playoff sweep at Dodger Stadium.
Cincinnati’s Unwanted “Cinch Season”
For the Reds, this isn’t “clinch season” in a good way like 2025. It’s a byproduct of a season that bottomed out in May and is now facing a brutal September gauntlet. It doesn’t get any easier either, with at least an outside shot of seeing three more teams clinch in their final three series. The Cubs are chasing a wild-card clincher this weekend, the Braves’ NL East title could align with the Reds’ series in Atlanta next week, and if the Blue Jays keep pace in the AL wild-card race before the Reds head to Canada… yeah, you get the idea. Reds manager Terry Francona isn’t focused on these “wrong-way clinchers,” saying, “I always leave and come in here (to the clubhouse)… Whether good, bad or in between, that’s their business. … Everybody’s different.” But these possible six clinchers in 16 games are a harsh reminder for Cincinnati of how far they’ve fallen since their own wild-card celebration in Milwaukee last September.
This Reds team, which hasn’t won a playoff series in 31 years, is clearly headed back to the drawing board this winter. They have so much ground to make up, so much work for the front office, if they want to throw their own parties next year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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