Dodgers Clinch NL West Title with 8-0 Win Over Diamondbacks

The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the National League West division title with an 8-0 shutout victory, led by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. Although injuries contributed to uneven performances throughout the season, the Dodgers now hold a 5.5-game lead over the San Diego Padres and have captured six victories in their past eight contests.

Freddie Freeman launched two home runs during the contest, including a solo shot in the second inning and a two-run homer—his 23rd of the year—in the fourth. Shohei Ohtani also ignited the fourth inning by smashing a 406-foot two-run homer, marking his 54th of the season. Those power displays helped build an insurmountable advantage early in the matchup.

Andy Pages extended his impressive sophomore campaign—and a recent surge at the plate—with a solo home run in the second inning, lifting his season total to 27. Mookie Betts capped the Dodgers' four-run second with a two-run single. Altogether, those contributions accounted for all eight runs in the lopsided outcome.

The Dodgers' three-game series against the Diamondbacks exposed vulnerabilities in the bullpen, often following solid outings from starters. On Tuesday, in a narrow 5-4 defeat, Shohei Ohtani delivered six scoreless innings and passed a 4-0 cushion to the relievers, only for three of the four to surrender runs that erased the margin.

Wednesday's matchup nearly mirrored the prior evening's disappointment. Blake Snell permitted just one run across six innings, yet the Diamondbacks forged a 4-4 tie in the eighth behind a shaky appearance from Alex Vesia. Relievers Clayton Kershaw, Blake Treinen, Roki Sasaki, Jack Dreyer, and Justin Wrobleski then steadied the ship through extras, paving the way for Tommy Edman's one-run single that sealed a 5-4 triumph in the 11th.

The Dodgers rank third overall in the National League, trailing the Brewers and the Phillies, both of whom earn byes into the National League Division Series. Should the postseason commence immediately, Los Angeles would face the Mets in the wild card round. The Diamondbacks and the Reds, however, remain contenders for the last wild card position.