Tarik Skubal Leads Dodgers Past Reds to Clinch 14th Straight Postseason Berth
The Dodgers clinched a spot in the 2026 postseason behind seven scoreless innings from Tarik Skubal and home runs from Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernández.
Los Angeles defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 Monday night at Great American Ball Park, improving to 91-59 and officially securing its place in October.
The victory gave the Dodgers their 14th consecutive postseason appearance, tying the Atlanta Braves’ all-time MLB record set from 1991 through 2005. (MLB.com)
Skubal Holds Cincinnati Scoreless for Seven Innings
Skubal delivered one of his strongest performances since joining the Dodgers.
The left-hander allowed three hits, all singles, and one walk while striking out nine over seven scoreless innings. He completed the outing on 90 pitches and improved to 10-7 this season.
Skubal immediately established control by striking out Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart in the first inning. He worked around a Eugenio Suárez single in the second when Juan Brito grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Cincinnati placed two runners on base against Skubal for the only time in the fifth.
Brito singled with one out and JJ Bleday walked. Skubal struck out Ke’Bryan Hayes for the second out before throwing a wild pitch that advanced both runners into scoring position.
He escaped the inning by getting Héctor Rodríguez to chase a fastball for his seventh strikeout of the game.
Skubal then retired the Reds in order in both the sixth and seventh innings, striking out Stewart and Tyler Stephenson along the way.
It was his second victory over Cincinnati in seven days. Skubal also allowed two runs across 7⅓ innings in the Dodgers’ 3-2 win over the Reds on Sept. 8.
He is now 2-0 with a 1.73 ERA over his last four starts.
Tucker and Hernández Power the Dodgers’ Offense
The Dodgers managed only three hits against Reds starter Nick Lodolo, but all three drove in runs.
Tucker opened the second inning by sending a Lodolo fastball into the right-field seats for a solo home run. It was Tucker’s 15th homer of the season and his third in five games.
The right fielder also helped create Los Angeles’ next scoring opportunity.
Tucker worked a two-out walk in the fourth before Hernández launched a two-run home run to right-center field, extending the lead to 3-0.
It was Hernández’s 14th home run of the season.
Lodolo kept the Dodgers without another hit until the seventh. Hernández began the inning with a walk and stole second while Max Muncy struck out.
Kiké Hernández then lined a two-out single into center field, allowing Teoscar Hernández to score the Dodgers’ fourth run.
Lodolo finished with four runs allowed on three hits and four walks over seven innings. He struck out four.
De Paula Records First Major League Stolen Base
Josue De Paula reached base once in three plate appearances while starting in left field.
The rookie grounded into a double play in the third inning before drawing a two-out walk in the fifth. De Paula then stole second base for the first stolen base of his Major League career.
He finished the game 0-for-2 with one walk and one stolen base.
The Dodgers stole three bases as a team. Teoscar Hernández recorded his fifth steal of the season in the seventh, while Tucker collected his 11th in the ninth.
Vesia and Phillips Complete the Victory
Alex Vesia replaced Skubal in the eighth inning and retired all three batters he faced.
He induced popouts from Bleday and Rodríguez while striking out Hayes during the perfect inning.
Evan Phillips entered with a 4-0 lead in the ninth and struck out pinch-hitter Carlos Jorge for the first out.
De La Cruz prevented the shutout by launching a 457-foot solo home run to center field. It was his 27th homer of the season and Cincinnati’s only extra-base hit of the game.
Phillips recovered by retiring Stewart and Stephenson to secure the Dodgers’ 4-1 victory.
Dodgers Secure Their Place in October
The Dodgers have now reached the postseason every year since 2013.
Their 14 consecutive appearances match the Braves for the longest postseason streak in MLB history. Los Angeles has reached October in each of the previous 13 seasons despite the postseason not being played in 1994 during Atlanta’s record-setting run.
This was only the first of several goals the Dodgers are still pursuing.
They have not clinched the NL West, and their positioning in the National League remains unsettled. Los Angeles is attempting to secure another division championship and earn a first-round bye while continuing to chase Milwaukee for the league’s best record.
The Dodgers are also trying to get injured players healthy before beginning their pursuit of a third consecutive World Series championship.
Monday’s victory guaranteed them the opportunity.
What’s Next for the Dodgers?
The four-game series continues Tuesday in Cincinnati.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto is scheduled to start for Los Angeles against Reds right-hander Rhett Lowder.
First pitch is scheduled for 4:40 p.m. MDT and 3:40 p.m. PDT.