The Dodgers reduced their magic number to clinch the National League West to one with a 4-2 victory over the Giants on Tuesday.
MLB playoff standings 2014: Dodgers reduce magic number to 1
Justin Turner and the Dodgers got the best of Madison Bumgarner and the Giants, giving L.A. the opportunity to clinch the NL West on Wednesday.
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Zack Greinke allowed a two-run homer to Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner but otherwise flummoxed opposing hitters, allowing only six hits and notching five strikeouts in eight innings. Greinke received plenty of run support from Justin Turner and Matt Kemp. The former hit a pair of solo homers against Bumgarner and the latter added a two-run shot in the first inning, giving the Dodgers an early three-run lead.
Los Angeles can clinch the division on Wednesday, and its chances of doing so are pretty good with Clayton Kershaw on the mound. Kershaw enters the game leading baseball in ERA (1.80) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.8).
The Giants, meanwhile, can still clinch a postseason berth, even if they lose on Wednesday. The Brewers have to win out to force a play-in game, while the Giants would have to lose the rest of their contests.
American League
| Division | Team | W-L | Pct | GB |
| ALW | Los Angeles Angels | 97-61 | .614 | --- |
| ALE | Baltimore Orioles | 94-63 | .599 | --- |
| ALC | Detroit Tigers | 87-70 | .554 | --- |
| WC1 | Oakland Athletics | 86-71 | .548 | --- |
| WC2 | Kansas City Royals | 86-71 | .548 | --- |
| Seattle Mariners | 83-74 | .529 | 3 | |
| Cleveland Indians | 82-76 | .519 | 4½ | |
| New York Yankees | 81-76 | .516 | 5 |
National League
| Division | Team | W-L | Pct | GB |
| NLE | Washington Nationals | 92-64 | .590 | --- |
| NLW | Los Angeles Dodgers | 90-68 | .570 | --- |
| NLC | St. Louis Cardinals | 88-70 | .557 | --- |
| WC1 | Pittsburgh Pirates | 86-71 | .548 | +1 |
| WC2 | San Francisco Giants | 85-72 | .541 | --- |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 80-77 | .510 | 5 |
Notables
- In addition to pulling closer to clinching their division, the Dodgers accomplished a rather surprising feat:
Dodgers have 90-wins in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1977-78.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 24, 2014
- The Rockies and Padres are both very much out of the postseason race, but that doesn't make this catch by Colorado outfielder Brandon Barnes any less spectacular:
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