The Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League West after an 8-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.
The Dodgers were the favorites to win the division before the season, so their winning the division should not come as a shock. The Dodgers will celebrate their 13th division championship in 14 seasons, but there is still something to play for. The Dodgers are looking to clinch a first-round bye.
Magic Number To Clinch Bye: 6
The Dodgers, Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers are real contenders to claim the two first-round byes in the National League. The Dodgers trail the Brewers by two games in the standings and have a four-game lead over the Braves after play on Thursday.
Any combination of Braves losses and Dodgers wins equaling six will secure the Dodgers a first-round bye. The Dodgers would love to pass the Brewers and claim home-field advantage as well.
The Dodgers need a bye more than other teams. They are very banged up, and a bye could help make sure Blake Snell, Edgardo Henriquez and Shohei Ohtani are all 100% and ready to go for what is hopefully another deep run.
Failing to secure a bye would mean the Dodgers would likely face the San Diego Padres or Arizona Diamondbacks in a best-of-three series before heading to Atlanta for a National League Division Series matchup against the Braves.