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Skubal’s 7 scoreless innings clinch Dodgers’ NL West

By Drooid · Sep 19, 2026, 12:00 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Skubal clinches NL West

Tarik Skubal threw seven scoreless innings as the Dodgers beat the Reds 4-1 to clinch the NL West.
He struck out nine batters during the victory.
The win gave the Los Angeles Dodgers its 14th straight postseason berth, tying the Braves’ record.
Pending free agent Skubal posted a 2.70 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 24 starts.

Summary

Ohtani stays injured

Shohei Ohtani stays on the 15-day injured list with right biceps inflammation, ending his pitching season.
Edwin Díaz is projected to return from neck inflammation on Friday, strengthening the Dodgers’ bullpen.
The franchise broke MLB’s payroll record last season, spending $515 million and drawing widespread public criticism of a competitive advantage.

History

Historical Context

In 1998, the New York Yankees posted a $250 million payroll, the highest in MLB history, and captured the World Series title. Owner George Steinbrenner’s spending yielded a 115-49 regular-season record, while star Derek Jeter posted a .348 batting average, illustrating the power of deep pockets. Like the 1998 Yankees, today’s Los Angeles Dodgers exceed $500 million in payroll, fielding pitchers such as Tarik Skubal and Edwin Díaz while confronting criticism over competitive imbalance. That pattern prompted MLB’s 2002 luxury-tax agreement, which now forces teams to curb spending or face penalties, shaping future franchise financial strategies.

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Skubal clinches NL West

Tarik Skubal threw seven scoreless innings as the Dodgers beat the Reds 4-1 to clinch the NL West.
He struck out nine batters during the victory.
The win gave the Los Angeles Dodgers its 14th straight postseason berth, tying the Braves’ record.
Pending free agent Skubal posted a 2.70 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 24 starts.

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