CINCINNATI — The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 on Monday night. The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched their 14th consecutive playoff berth with the victory.

Kyle Tucker hit a solo home run in the second inning off Nick Lodolo. Teoscar Hernández hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning after Kyle Tucker walked.

Kiké Hernández recorded an RBI single in the seventh inning. Elly De La Cruz hit a 457-foot solo home run off Evan Phillips in the ninth inning.

De La Cruz's home run was the longest by a Cincinnati player this season and the longest at Great American Ballpark this year. Lodolo allowed four runs and three hits in seven innings for the Reds.

The Dodgers' magic number to win the NL West title is three. The team has a record of 91-59.

Skubal has a 2.52 ERA in eight starts since being acquired by the Dodgers from the Detroit Tigers on August 2. Rhett Lowder is scheduled to pitch for the Reds on Tuesday.

Freddie Freeman missed Monday's game due to right knee soreness. Shohei Ohtani is on the 15-day injured list due to right biceps inflammation.

Edgardo Henriquez was placed on the injured list on Monday with a back problem. Miguel Rojas aggravated a shoulder injury on Sunday but played through soreness on Monday.

Why It Matters

The Dodgers' 14th consecutive playoff berth ties the Major League Baseball record set by the Atlanta Braves from 1991 through 2005. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the third team to secure a playoff spot, joining the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won 10 National League West division titles since 2013, including the 2025 season, which marked their 14th consecutive playoff berth. The Los Angeles Dodgers have won a record number of National League pennants.

Timeline

On September 15, 2025, the Dodgers defeated the Reds 4-1. The team's record stood at 91-59. Skubal pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits, striking out nine, and walking one.

The Dodgers' magic number to win the NL West title was three. Max Muncy said it is hard to say it ever feels routine, but it is the expectation here.

Muncy also said he always laughs whenever they clinch a postseason spot, they 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 they clinch the division.

Skubal said he thinks it just speaks to the people in the room and what they expect out of the team. That was cool. A little toast and move on. Forget it happened. They've got more to accomplish this season.

Dave Roberts said they go through a lot of players every year, and guys find a way to step up, and so that's the thing he's probably most proud of, is the consistency of winning over the long term. Any team, any organization can win in a given year where things line up, but to do it every single year when they're expected to do this says something about the entire organization.

What's New

Skubal was acquired by the Dodgers from the Tigers on August 2, 2025, and made his first start for the team on August 12, 2025, where he allowed one run in 5.1 innings. Skubal had a 2.52 ERA in eight starts with the Dodgers in 2025, contributing to their strong performance in the playoffs. Los Angeles Dodgers at Cincinnati Reds — Cincinnati Reds 0, Los Angeles Dodgers 0 [Scheduled].

The Dodgers have a 93-69 record in the 2025 season, finishing 1st in the NL West and winning the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Reds' 2025 season saw them finish with an 83-79 record, marking their first postseason appearance since the 2020 season and their first 162-game-season postseason appearance since 2013.

How Sources Differ

Regarding Reds pitcher stats, 2025 Los Angeles Dodgers Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com stated that in the 2025 season, Nick Lodolo had a 4.76 ERA with the Reds, allowing 4 runs and 3 hits in 7 innings during the September 15 game against the Dodgers.