After missing out on their first chance to clinch a 13th division title in 14 years, the Los Angeles Dodgers will have another opportunity Thursday afternoon in the finale of their four-game series against the host Cincinnati Reds.
The Dodgers (92-60) couldn’t clinch the National League West championship on Wednesday, falling 6-2 to the Cincinnati Reds (71-81). Two hours later, the second-place San Diego Padres (83-69) defeated the Colorado Rockies 9-3, to force the Dodgers to keep their champagne outside the visitors’ clubhouse in Cincinnati on ice.
The two-time reigning World Series champion Dodgers faced an early injury scare on Wednesday and saw their offense go uncharacteristically cold with runners in scoring position.
Los Angeles left-hander Blake Snell was forced to exit after the first inning due to left groin tightness. After throwing just 19 pitches, Snell didn’t come out for the second inning and instead stayed behind in the visitors’ training room getting treatment.
“I’ve strained it four different times, so I’m aware if I kept pitching, I definitely would’ve strained it,” Snell said. “For me to stop, that’s a first. Maybe I’m growing up. I don’t know. But that was definitely the right move. And the next couple of days, we’ll see where we’re at and go from there.”
In the series finale, the Dodgers will send left-hander Justin Wrobleski (11-5, 3.78 ERA) to the mound for his 22nd start and 25th appearance of the season. Wrobleski produced a stellar first half to anchor the team’s injury-laden pitching staff, posting a dominant 10-2 record and a 2.69 ERA before the All-Star break.
Those results earned him a spot on the National League All-Star roster. After a brief stint on the injured list due to forearm inflammation, Wrobleski has remained a vital part of the rotation and figures as a versatile piece of the staff heading into the postseason.
With other starters returning to action, Wrobleski has shifted between starting and relieving this month. In his most recent outing, he threw two scoreless innings out of the bullpen on Saturday at Miami.
Wrobleski made his lone career appearance against Cincinnati last year, when he threw one scoreless inning in relief.
The Reds will counter with Brady Singer (6-14, 5.38 ERA), who has endured a deeply frustrating stretch over his past five starts. Dating back to Aug. 20, the right-hander has pitched to a 1-3 record and a 9.00 ERA over just 25 innings.
Singer’s troubles largely stem from an inability to keep the ball in the park.
In those five games, Singer surrendered 25 runs on 33 hits while issuing 14 walks against only 21 strikeouts. His struggles peaked in his most recent outing on Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers, when he allowed eight runs and five walks in a four-inning stint.
Even in his victory on Sept. 6, also against Milwaukee, Singer walked six batters while yielding six runs in five innings.
Singer has enjoyed success against the Dodgers in his career, going 2-1 with a 1.89 ERA in three starts.
Teoscar Hernandez, who is 2-for-2 in his career against Singer, struck out to end the Wednesday game. That capped an 0-for-4 night and ended his 23-game hitting streak in matchups with Cincinnati.
For the Reds, Elly De La Cruz went 1-for-3 with a home run and a walk, extending his on-base streak to 23 games, the longest active streak in the majors. De La Cruz is finishing the 2026 season on a strong note after being severely limited by a strained quadriceps at the end of 2025.
“I think he’s managed it really well, really well, and you can tell he’s feeling better and better by the more aggressive he is on the basis,” Reds manager Terry Francona said after the Wednesday win.
–Field Level Media
