The race to October is officially on, and for the Cincinnati Reds, there’s no mystery left in the math.
Each of the past three seasons, 89 wins has been the magic number to secure a National League playoff spot. As things stand today, the Reds sit at 58-54 with 50 games remaining. That means they’ll need to go 31-19 down the stretch to get there.
Doable? Maybe. But it’s going to require something this team hasn’t shown consistently all season — a dominant stretch of baseball.
The Path Is There – But It’s Tight
The Reds are currently four games out of the final NL Wild Card spot, hovering in the middle of a tightly-packed group of hopefuls. The next 50 games represent more than just a finishing sprint — they’re a gauntlet of crucial divisional matchups and must-win series.
Of those final 50, 29 games will come against NL Central opponents — the Brewers, Cubs, Pirates, and Cardinals. The problem? Cincinnati is just 11-15 against the division so far this season. If that trend continues, the Reds can kiss October goodbye.
If there’s a turnaround to be had, it has to start in the Central.
And it all starts tonight, with Nick Lodolo on the mound facing the Chicago Cubs on the road. The lefty has quietly been one of the more consistent arms in the rotation this season, and the Reds need him to set the tone — not just for this series, but for this final stretch.
A Streak Has to Happen
There’s no avoiding it: the Reds need a real winning streak — something like 8 to 10 straight, or winning 11 of 12 — to make up ground in the standings and build the kind of momentum that playoff teams ride through August and September.
Every playoff team each year finds “the stretch.” Right now, the Reds are still waiting on theirs. With just 50 games left, time is running out to put one together.
That kind of run could vault them past a crowded Wild Card race and give the clubhouse belief that they’re not just hoping — they’re belonging.
Every Game Is a Playoff Game Now
There are no more “meh” Tuesdays in August. Every night matters. Every loss stings. Every series has stakes.
If the Reds want to play in October, they have to start playing like it now.
A 31-19 record is within reach. But it will take more than just steady play — it will take a streak, a defining run, a burst of energy that this team hasn’t shown… yet.
It starts tonight. Nick Lodolo has the ball, and the Reds have a chance to start writing their playoff story.
The good news? They still have time. The bad news? It’s running out quickly.
