Dodgers Clinch Fifth Straight NL West Title as Record Streak Reaches 14
The Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched the National League West for a fifth consecutive season, moving to 93-60 and securing the division for the 13th time in 14 years.
It is the fourth-earliest division clinch in franchise history, behind only 2019, 2022 and 2023.
A Record Equalled
The title follows a milestone reached three days earlier. A 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday confirmed a 14th consecutive postseason appearance, equalling the Atlanta Braves' run from 1991 to 2005 for the longest streak in major league history.
Thirteen of those 14 trips have come by winning the division. The exception was 2021, when Los Angeles won 106 games and still finished second to San Francisco, entering the playoffs as a wild card.
The comparison with Atlanta flatters the Dodgers. The Braves reached five World Series during their streak and won once, in 1995. Los Angeles have three titles from five appearances, in 2020, 2024 and 2025.
Max Muncy, who has 28 home runs and an .850 OPS at the age of 36, described the mood around the clinch as understated.
"It's hard to say it ever feels routine, but it is the expectation here," he said. "I always laugh whenever we clinch a postseason spot, we just do a nice little toast. The guys that haven't been here, they kind of see that and they expect a little bit more. That happens when you clinch the division."
Asked about matching Atlanta's streak, Muncy was blunt about the difference in what the two runs produced. "Thankfully, we're doing a little bit better than that," he said.
Manager Dave Roberts used his postgame toast to set expectations rather than celebrate. "We're not close," he told his players, "to playing the way we're going to."
Chasing a Three-Peat
Los Angeles are attempting to become the first team to win three consecutive World Series since the New York Yankees managed it from 1998 to 2000.
Seeding remains unresolved. The Dodgers trail Milwaukee, who lead the National League at 95-57, and hold a three-and-a-half game advantage over Atlanta for the second seed and the bye that comes with it.
The roster has been reshaped through the season. Tarik Skubal joined Yoshinobu Yamamoto at the top of the rotation after the trade deadline, and Blake Snell returned from injury last month.
There are concerns too. Closer Edwin Diaz, signed on a two-year deal worth $69 million, required elbow surgery and has struggled on a late-season minor league rehab assignment. Centre fielder Andy Pages needed surgery on a hand fracture in August and is working to be available for October. Shohei Ohtani went on the injured list on 9 September with knee and biceps problems.
Los Angeles join Milwaukee, Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees among the teams to have secured postseason places. The Brewers wrapped up the NL Central on Tuesday for a fourth straight divisional title.
The regular season ends on 27 September, with the Wild Card Series beginning two days later and the Division Series on 3 October.
