MLB error delays Dodgers' postseason berth

Los Angeles Dodgers players celebrate on the field after defeating the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

MLB error delays Dodgers officially clinching postseason berth

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 9/12/22

With a roster as loaded as the 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers have, fans across baseball have pretty much assumed from Opening Day that the team would be playing in the upcoming playoffs. With far and away the best record in Major League Baseball entering action on Monday, the Dodgers have done little to show that they shouldn't be considered one of, if not the World Series.

After walloping their NL West foes in the San Diego Padres by a score of 11-2 on Sunday, Los Angeles officially clinched a spot in the postseason for the 10th straight year, or so they thought.

The @Dodgers stay busy in October. pic.twitter.com/NRlxFD7BhM
— MLB (@MLB) September 12, 2022

Due to a number of scenarios that involve potential three and four-team tiebreaks, the Los Angeles Dodgers have not yet clinched a Postseason berth. The Dodgers can clinch a Postseason berth tonight with a win at Arizona. The Dodgers can clinch the NL West as early as tomorrow.
— AlaNNa Rizzo (@alannarizzo) September 12, 2022

According to an ESPN report, an "internal error," by MLB caused the miscue.

"Manager Dave Roberts led a postgame toast with sparkling wine, and the players and staff were given caps with the postseason logo," the report said. "MLB said Monday, however, that it failed to account for a potential scenario in which the Padres (77-64) overtake the Dodgers for the NL West title and Los Angeles finishes in a three-way tie at 96-66 with the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals. Milwaukee would win the NL Central in that scenario while St. Louis would win the wild-card tiebreaker with Los Angeles based on head-to-head results this season."

While other teams' fans who fear facing the Dodgers in October may be thinking "So you're telling me there's a chance," the mathematical odds of Roberts and company missing out on the playoffs are nearly impossible. According to the ESPN report, the Dodgers would need to drop their final 23 games while the Brewers (75-66) would need to win their last 21 games in order for both clubs to finish 96-66.

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