On September 14, the secured a playoff spot by defeating the Reds, marking their 14th consecutive postseason appearance and matching the major league record held by the Atlanta Braves, who reached the playoffs every year from 1991 to 2005. The continued their winning streak with another victory against Cincinnati on September 15, which eliminated the Arizona Diamondbacks from contention in the National League West. Then, by beating the Reds again on September 16, Los Angeles ensured they would finish ahead of the San Diego Padres, clinching their fifth straight division title and their 13th in the last 14 seasons.
The top two division winners with the best records receive a bye directly into the National League Division Series, allowing them to start postseason play on Saturday, October 3, rather than competing in the wild card round beginning Tuesday, September 29.
As of September 22, the do not hold tiebreakers against either the Brewers or Braves, meaning they must outpace those teams in regular-season wins to secure a higher seed. The ’ magic number to claim at least the No. 2 seed over Atlanta is just one, indicating they need only one favorable outcome among several possibilities to finish with a better record than the Braves, who require a perfect run of results. Securing the top seed over Milwaukee presents a greater challenge; the ’ magic number is seven, needing seven favorable outcomes, while the Brewers need only four to finish with the best National League record for the second consecutive year.
Fan Take: This milestone cements the ‘ status as one of baseball’s most consistent powerhouses, highlighting their sustained excellence over the past decade and a half. For fans, it adds extra excitement as the postseason approaches, promising intense battles for top seeding that could shape the entire playoff landscape and potentially redefine rivalries.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
