Dodgers 4, Reds 1: Tarik Skubal strikes out 9 over 7 shutout, backed by Tuck & Teo homers to clinch a playoff berth

Chad Moriyama 09/14/2026 Game Recaps Leave A Comment

Starting a four-game series with the Reds, the Dodgers were looking for an ideal start to it and they got exactly that thanks to Tarik Skubal, who turned in his best start with the team in going seven shutout frames. The offense gave him a reasonable cushion thanks mostly to homers from Kyle Tucker and Teoscar Hernandez, and the bullpen fortunately couldn’t blow that lead in a 4-1 win.

While it was basically a forgone conclusion, the Dodgers have now officially clinched a playoff spot with 12 games remaining.

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Reds starter Nick Lodolo hasn’t had a great 2026 campaign so far, and while he got victimized by the homer, he was unfortunately mostly effective.

His day started well with a 10-pitch 1st inning and also cruised through the 2nd … aside from Kyle Tucker leading off with his 15th homer of the year to make it 1-0 Dodgers.

Lodolo resumed in the 3rd by facing the minimum and erasing a lead-off walk with a double play, and started the 4th by getting the first two batters. However, Tucker worked a full-count walk and Teoscar Hernandez followed by hammering his 14th homer of the year to make it 3-0 Dodgers.

In the 5th, a two-out walk and stolen base was stranded, and he cruised through a clean 6th. Lodolo also started the 7th as his pitch count was still low, issuing a lead-off walk, which remained in place until a two-out stolen base. That was cashed in by Enrique Hernandez, who singled on an 0-2 pitch for insurance to make it 4-0 Dodgers.

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While he hasn’t been as dominant as many expected, Tarik Skubal still has as 2.93 ERA as a Dodger, and he seemed motivated today to put his early struggles behind him. He ended up hitting triple digits to end a clean 1st, striking out a pair to start.

Skubal then faced the minimum in the 2nd, erasing a one-out single with a double play, and sailed through the 3rd. After a lead-off single started the 4th, he carved through the heart of the Reds order to strand it, including making a hell of a play himself.

The 5th saw some trouble, as a one-out single and walk put a pair on, and with two down he uncorked a wild pitch to put both into scoring position. However, he continued to mow them down with his fastball, getting a strikeout to end the threat.

Skubal then took just six pitches to get through the top of the Reds order in the 6th, including a return to form for his changeup.

He followed that by taking just nine to get through the 7th, and that was it for him, despite a manageable pitch count: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K, 90 Pitches.

I know ball.

People wanted dominant, this was that.

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The Reds pen got a clean 8th, and then pitched around a walk, stolen base, and another walk in the 9th, so no more insurance.

Thankfully, no meltdown today.

The Dodgers pen began with Alex Vesia in the 8th, who got an 11-pitch inning, and then turned to Evan Phillips in the 9th. He got three outs relatively easy, and also treated us to Elly De La Cruz hitting a ball out of the stadium.

Gracious.

Anyway, 4-1 Dodgers.

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Teoscar almost batted out of order, which at least got a funny Dave Roberts reaction.

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Hello and welcome back to the Josue De Paula update corner, where he notched his first MLB stolen base today.

He also grounded into his first double play, had another groundout, and drew another amusingly impressive walk.

He knows exactly what he’s doing up there.

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NL SeedingRecordGB
Brewers93-57–
Dodgers91-592.0
Braves88-62*5.0

The series continues tomorrow at the same time of 12:40 PM HT/3:40 PM PT/6:40 PM ET with Yoshinobu Yamamoto taking the ball against Rhett Lowder.

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