The Cincinnati Reds enter yet another pivotal week, sitting just 1.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot.
Fresh off a successful series win in Chicago, Cincinnati headed to Pittsburgh—a place that’s given them plenty of headaches in recent years—and managed to take two of four from the Pirates.
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Thursday and Friday were frustrating, but the Reds bounced back on Saturday and Sunday to salvage a split. That rebound was aided by the continued collapse of the Mets, the team they’re chasing, who have now gone 1-9 in their last 10 games.
With that in mind, this week is another huge opportunity for Cincinnati.
The Challenge Ahead
The Reds face a six-game stretch against the Phillies and Brewers. For me, three wins this week would be a success.
The Phillies are one of the best teams in baseball, and the Brewers… well, they’ve always been a thorn in the Reds’ side. Winning half of these games would likely keep Cincinnati right where they are in the standings—still in striking distance.
Reinforcements on the Way
The Reds will get a major boost on Wednesday when ace Hunter Greene returns to the rotation. His comeback couldn’t be timed better, especially after the blow of losing Nick Lodolo to the IL last week. If all goes to plan, Lodolo should be back in a couple of weeks.
Pair that with the hot bats of Miguel Andújar and Noelvi Marte, and this team could be peaking at just the right time.
Who Needs to Step Up
Beyond winning three games, I’m looking for a spark from Elly De La Cruz and, especially, Austin Hays.
Elly is the Reds’ most talented player—getting him going would be huge for the final stretch. But Hays is the real X-factor. He’s hitting just .100 (3-for-30) in August, and Cincinnati desperately needs his bat to come alive if they’re going to make a serious postseason push.
The Stakes
It’s August 11th. A year ago, the Reds were 56-61. This year, they’re 62-57 and playing meaningful baseball.
It’s time to lock in, take care of business, and keep the playoff dream alive.
