Dodgers clinch NL West title
St. Louis' 12-3 victory over Arizona puts Dodgers in the playoffs. Phillies, Cubs or Mets await.
The Dodgers will take the field tonight in their final home game of the regular season as the champions of the National League West.
Dodger Stadium was empty at the time of the Dodgers' coronation, which was made official when the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks fell in St. Louis, 12-3.
The Dodgers, who missed the playoffs last year, last reached the postseason as the NL wild card in 2006. The division title is the first they've won outright in four years.
They join the Angels in the postseason, only the second time both Los Angeles-area teams have appeared in the playoffs in the same season. It previously happened in 2004.
The Diamondbacks had closed the deficit to two games by taking the opening game of their four-game series in St. Louis on Monday, but lost the next three, including today's game. The Dodgers have won 18 of their last 23.
The team that was taken over by Manager Joe Torre this spring and carried for the last two months by midseason acquisition Manny Ramirez secured at least a share of the division crown on Wednesday night by beating the San Diego Padres, 12-4.
In the wake of that victory, Torre said he would rest his regular position players tonight if the Diamondbacks lost. If Ramirez sits today, it will end his streak of 50 consecutive games played that started on the day he joined the Dodgers.
Greg Maddux will remain the Dodgers' starter and will face the team that traded him last month in what will essentially be an audition for a place in the playoff rotation. Opposite him will be Padres ace Jake Peavy, who considers Maddux a mentor.
Dylan.hernandez@latimes.com
