On September 14th, the Los Angeles Dodgers put together a huge win over the San Francisco Giants, taking the game by a final score of 10-2. With this victory, the Dodgers' magic number declinched the division now sits at 10, while the number needed for a wildcard spot drops to 7. The Dodgers showed dominance both on the mound and at the plate, sending a clear message to their division rivals in this late season push. Tyler Glaznow got the star for Los Angeles and worked 6-2-3 innings, only giving up a single run despite a few shaky moments.
Glaznow struggled a bit with his command, walking four and striking out just four, but managed to go deep into the game. That helped to rest the bullpen, which only needed to cover the remaining outs. Michael Copette came in later and allowed another run, but the outcome was already clear by that point. The Dodgers' offense was firing on all cylinders, racking up 17 hits and scoring 10 runs.
This offensive surge comes right after they put up 13 runs on Saturday, signaling that the recent struggles in August and early September might finally be behind them. For fans, it is a welcome sight to see the bats waking up as the team gears up for crucial gains down the stretch. Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres kept themselves close in the standings by beating the Colorado Rockies 9-6 and winning 3 out of 4 in that series. With the Padres hot on their heels, every game matters that much more for the Dodgers and their fans.
The rivalry in the National League West is still very much alive, and the next couple of weeks should offer plenty of drama. After wrapping up this series in San Francisco, the Dodgers head home for a stretch against the Philadelphia Phillies and, once again, the Giants. The Phillies will play in Los Angeles with three games, followed by a four-game set with the Giants. As for the Padres, they're heading out east to play the Mets and then the White Sox.
With both teams fighting for playoff spots, these next matchups could go a long way in deciding who comes out on top.