Dodgers clinch playoff berth but face obstacles in championship pursuit

The Los Angeles Dodgers secured their 14th consecutive postseason appearance with a 4-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on September 15. Despite being World Series favorites, concerns loom over the team's prospects due to injuries affecting stars Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. Ohtani, unable to pitch since June, is battling injuries that impact his hitting, while Freeman's knee issues have left him struggling at the plate. As they prepare to clinch the NL West, the Dodgers' path to a third consecutive title appears fraught with challenges as they face a potential uphill battle in October.

• 2:36 PMCBS MLB — Threepeat? Not so fast: Why a third consecutive Dodgers World Series title isn't as inevitable as it seems