"4-0 in the 2nd inning": Dodgers wrap it up in Cincinnati, clinching a 5th straight division title and 24th overall
The Dodgers beat the Reds 8-2 on Sept. 17 local time to clinch the NL West title. It is their 5th in a row and 24th overall.
Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.
Three-line summary
- On Sept. 17, 2026 local time, the Dodgers beat the Reds 8-2 on the road in Cincinnati
- It is their 5th straight NL West title and the franchise's 24th division title overall
- If they succeed, they would become the first National League team to win 3 straight World Series, but for now it is still only a challenge
The game was decided early. They scored 2 runs in the 1st and 2 more in the 2nd. Leading 4-0, the Dodgers stretched it to 7-0 in the 4th inning. According to TrueBlueLA's game record, the final score was 8-2. For a clinching game, there was little tension. But the real number in this game is not the score but the date.
Dodgers clinch division in game 153 of the season, 6 games earlier than the year before
According to TrueBlueLA's count, this clinching came in game 153 of the season. The previous season's clincher came in game 159, so it was moved up by 6 games. According to AP, the Dodgers have secured 14 straight postseason appearances through the 2026 season. That ties the all-time record set by the Atlanta Braves from 1991 to 2005. The year 1994, when no postseason was held, is excluded from the count. The clinching time is based on U.S. local time, so in Korea it falls a day later. This article was confirmed at 11:00 on Sept. 18, 2026 Korea time.
Looking at division titles alone, the Dodgers have won 13 of the last 14 seasons. In other words, they finished first in every season but one. The number 13 shows this team's dominance more accurately than the phrase "5 straight."
24 division titles overall, surpassing the Braves' 23 and the Yankees' 21
According to MLB's official announcement, this is the Dodgers' franchise-record 24th division title. That makes them the sole leader since the division format was introduced.
Top 3 teams in all-time division titles since the division format was introduced (as of Sept. 17, 2026 reporting)
| Rank | Team | Total division titles | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 24 | Includes this title |
| 2 | Atlanta Braves | 23 | Count as of reporting |
| 3 | New York Yankees | 21 | Count as of reporting |
The gap between the Dodgers and third-place Yankees is 3 titles. However, this ranking reflects the count as of the Sept. 17 reporting, so the numbers will change if other teams clinch division titles in the remaining schedule. Cross-checking reports on the 24-title figure also cite the count of MLB's records staff, so it is hard to treat them as the result of two independent counts agreeing.
The World Series three-peat question: 0 NL precedents versus the Yankees of 1998 to 2000
The issue narrows down to one point: a division title is a different record from a World Series title. Forbes 1998 to 2000 New York Yankees as the most recent MLB team to win 3 straight World Series, according to its summary. That means the American League has a precedent. In the National League, no team has yet won 3 straight World Series. It was reported that if the Dodgers succeed this time, they would be the first in the league. The math implies they must do something nobody has done in 26 years, and in a league with no precedent at that.
Converted into money, the weight of the postseason becomes clear. In the 2025 postseason shares announced by MLB, one full Dodgers player share was $484,747.57, and the total player pool was $46,147,019.39 (as of Dec. 18, 2025). These are strictly the previous year's payouts, not the prize money for this division title or this year's confirmed payments. A division title is not the stage that determines the size of the payout.
The three-peat is still a challenge. The postseason opponents will be decided only after the rest of the regular-season schedule ends. The all-time division title ranking could also change depending on whether other teams clinch, compared with the Sept. 17 count.
Frequently asked questions
Q. When did the Dodgers clinch the division, and what was the final score?
They clinched it by beating the Reds 8-2 on the road in Cincinnati on Sept. 17, 2026 U.S. local time. There is a one-day difference from Korea time, so please keep the dates distinct.
Q. How many division titles do the Dodgers have all-time?
According to MLB, they have 24, the most of any franchise since the division format was introduced. Second-place Atlanta Braves have 23 and third-place New York Yankees have 21 (as of Sept. 17, 2026 reporting).
Q. How much was the Dodgers' postseason payout?
As of 2025, one player share was $484,747.57 and the team total was $46,147,019.39 (as of Dec. 18, 2025). Because these are the previous year's payouts, they differ from the prize money for this division title or this year's payments.
Related official sites
- Los Angeles Dodgers official website — Check the game schedule and official team announcements
- MLB official standings — See division standings and postseason qualification status at a glance
Featured image · Archival photo · Not an on-site photo of the current game in the article · Photo: Wikimedia Commons (User Rdikeman on en.wikipedia), CC BY-SA 3.0
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