As they have every season since 2013, the Dodgers are back in the postseason again in 2024. Their win on Thursday in Miami clinched a playoff spot for Los Angeles and the third-longest postseason streak in MLB history.
The math behind the clinching is that Atlanta is the best team on the outside looking in behind the top six records in the National League. The Braves (83-70) and Mets (84-68) play three games next week, ensuring that at least one of them will finish with at least 71 losses.
The Dodgers, who own the tiebreaker over both teams by winning each season series — going 5-2 against the Braves and 4-2 against the Mets — won their 91st game of the season on Thursday, ensuring them no worse than a tie with Atlanta and/or New York.
Most playoff berths, 2013-24
| Team | Playoff berths |
|---|---|
| Team | Playoff berths |
| Dodgers | 12 |
| Astros | 8* |
| Yankees | 8 |
| Braves | 7 |
| Cardinals | 7 |
| Guardians | 7 |
| Rays | 6 |
| Brewers | 6 |
| Red Sox | 5 |
| Cubs | 4 |
| A's | 4 |
| Blue Jays | 4 |
| Nationals | 4 |
Within the division he Dodgers (91-62) lead the Padres (87-66) by four games with nine left to play, giving Los Angeles a magic number of six to win the National League West for the 11th time in the last 12 seasons.
The Dodgers streak of a dozen straight seasons in the playoffs is the third-longest in major league history, behind only the Braves at 14 years (1991-2005, minus the strike-shortened 1994 season) and Yankees at 13 years (1995-2007).
Los Angeles has also won at least 90 games in each of the last 11 full seasons. Only the Yankees, with a dozen straight years from 1947-58, have a longer streak.
Twelve postseason berths in the last 12 years are four more than any other MLB team, though the Astros are poised to earn a ninth playoff nod this year with a five-game American League West lead with 10 games to play.
The Dodgers are the fourth team to clinch a postseason berth in 2024. The Brewers won the National League Central on Wednesday afternoon, and the Yankees captured a playoff berth with a win on Wednesday night. The Guardians clinched a playoff spot earlier Thursday.