Reds Prevent Dodgers from Clinching NL West with 6-2 Victory

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 17, 2026

The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2, preventing the Dodgers from clinching the NL West title as the San Diego Padres also won their game. This delay prolongs the Dodgers’ chance to secure their fifth consecutive division crown and keeps the NL West race open.

The Cincinnati Reds halted the Los Angeles Dodgers’ bid to clinch the National League West division title with a 6-2 victory on Wednesday night. The Dodgers, who entered the game with a 92-60 record, needed either a win or a loss by the San Diego Padres later in the day to secure their fifth consecutive NL West crown and 13th in 14 seasons. However, the Reds’ win, combined with the Padres’ 9-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies in Denver, delayed the Dodgers’ celebration.

San Diego’s Ethan Salas stood out by becoming the youngest catcher in Major League Baseball history to record a multi-homer game. At 20 years and 107 days old, Salas hit two home runs, surpassing the previous mark set by Butch Wynegar of the Minnesota Twins, who was 20 years and 192 days old when he achieved the feat in 1976.

Los Angeles starting pitcher Blake Snell was forced to exit the game early due to left groin tightness after throwing just 19 pitches in the first inning. His early departure put additional pressure on the Dodgers' bullpen, which struggled to contain the Reds’ offense throughout the contest.

Meanwhile, in the National League Central, Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong broke a longstanding franchise record for left-handed hitters by hitting his 43rd and 44th home runs of the season, surpassing Billy Williams’ mark. The Cubs secured an 8-4 victory against the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves. Shota Imanaga (11-10) delivered six innings for the win, allowing one run.

Offensively, the Cubs received a strong performance from Alex Bregman, who went 3-for-4 with a home run, triple, double, and four runs batted in. Crow-Armstrong also contributed an RBI triple, helping Chicago maintain a half-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies for the top spot in the National League wild card standings.

In Philadelphia, the Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals 3-0 behind the pitching of Zack Wheeler, who threw seven scoreless innings, surrendering only four hits while striking out four and walking one. Wheeler improved to 13-5 on the season. Third baseman Alec Bohm went 2-for-2 with an RBI and helped the Phillies draw a season-high 13 walks as they continue their push toward postseason qualification.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.