Tatis Helps Padres Clinch Third Straight

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ethan Salas delivered RBI singles in a three-run seventh as the San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Thursday night at Dodger Stadium to clinch a franchise-record third consecutive postseason berth and fifth in seven seasons, the Associated Press reported. Mason Miller closed it for his 38th save after Shohei Ohtani's RBI double cut the lead to two in the ninth.

That clinch stamp is the board. Soft fantasy note only: a locked berth does not invent October counting lines. Ride the champagne window, then reassess Wild Card roles.

Tyler Glasnow struck out a season-high 11 and carried a no-hitter into the sixth before Salas and Tatis broke it up with back-to-back singles. Salas scored on Dustin Harris' sacrifice fly. In the seventh, Jackson Merrill doubled, Xander Bogaerts walked, Austin Hays singled, and Salas and Tatis stacked RBI singles for a 4-0 lead.

Padres fans get October again after the magic-number board finally flipped into plastic wrap. Soft fantasy note only: treat Tatis as a lineup staple through the finish, not as a free October projection.

Dodgers fans still leave with a bye locked and home-field advantage in the NLDS secured once Cincinnati beat Atlanta, AP noted. Milwaukee locked home-field advantage throughout the playoffs the same night. Soft fantasy note only: bank the Padres clinch, then wait for seeding before you script the bracket.

San Diego opens a series against Arizona next. Soft fantasy note only: start the names who earned the clinch until the Wild Card roster is posted.

Nick Pivetta struck out five of nine batters in his first trip through the Dodgers lineup before Ohtani and Mookie Betts punched late-inning contact. Yuki Matsui got the win in relief. Soft fantasy note only: closer leverage for Miller stays real in September, but do not invent a playoff save total from one clinch night.

The magic-number board finally flipped into a locked berth on the same night Chicago and Cleveland punched AL tickets. Soft fantasy note only: three clinches on one card does not mean every name is an automatic October start. Wait for the Wild Card seeding sheet.

Padres board

Padres 4-2 at Dodgers. Clinched franchise-record third straight postseason berth.

Tatis: RBI single in three-run seventh. Salas: RBI single. Miller: 38th save.

Also: Dodgers bye locked; Brewers HFA throughout. Next: D-backs series.

Fan closer

Trust the Tatis clinch stamp, then wait for the Wild Card bracket before you spend October on one script.