LA Dodgers make MLB play-offs for 14th straight season after beating Cincinnati Reds

[p]With a 91-59 record and 12 games remaining in the regular season, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-dodgers/nwPDBpVc/"]Dodgers[/a] are now assured of at least a wild card series place, as they pursue a historic three-peat as MLB champions.[/p][p]The Dodgers are currently in position for one of the National League's top-two seeds - who receive first-round byes and hosting rights in the division series - along with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/milwaukee-brewers/CGzqC60o/"]Milwaukee Brewers[/a], who are also assured of post-season action.[/p][p]Over in the American League, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tampa-bay-rays/GCHgI4hp/"]Tampa Bay Rays[/a] have already qualified.[/p][p]The free-spending Dodgers beat the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-yankees/SrC4LDIT/"]New York Yankees[/a] in the 2024 World Series and triumphed over the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/toronto-blue-jays/zcDLaZ3b/"]Toronto Blue Jays[/a] last year.[/p][p]Having added outfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tucker-kyle/0xBFfa4q/"]Kyle Tucker[/a] in the off-season and two-time Cy Young Award-winning pitcher [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/skubal-tarik/zuS2jB1J/"]Tarik Skubal[/a] last month, the Dodgers are favorites to complete their hat-trick.[/p][embed guid="10d94daa-5577-4b39-ae2a-aba7e4aebd9c" url="https://x.com/MLB/status/2099663589409800606?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]They could become the first National League club to win the World Series three years in a row and the first since the Yankees from 1998-2000.[/p][p]But reaching the playoffs for a 14th straight season has not been all plain sailing.[/p][p]Having reached the All-Star break leading Arizona by 11.5 games in the NL West division - by far the largest margin for any division leader - the Dodgers suffered a slump in form.[/p][p]Two-way superstar [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ohtani-shohei/QoeWGRko/"]Shohei Ohtani[/a] has been derailed by injuries, and is not expected to pitch again this season, while his batting form has also dipped.[/p][p]But a recent season-best run of eight straight victories restored the Dodgers' substantial lead at the top of the NL West.[/p][p]Their closest rivals for a top-two seed are the NL East's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atlanta-braves/0UPxbDYA/"]Atlanta Braves[/a].[/p][p]Kyle Tucker and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hernandez-teoscar/h0syi8VM/"]Teoscar Hernandez[/a] each hit home runs in the Dodgers' comfortable [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/baseball/cincinnati-reds-EkWXj6U9/los-angeles-dodgers-nwPDBpVc/?mid=SU84AqQh"]Monday night victory[/a] in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cincinnati-reds/EkWXj6U9/"]Cincinnati[/a].[/p]