The Cincinnati Reds are playing great baseball right now and sit just one-and-a-half games back from the third National League Wild Card spot.
They have won four games in a row, including the first two games against the New York Mets to begin the second half.
The Reds have a great pitching staff that can stack up against the best, but the team needs a few upgrades to really be contenders.
If Cincinnati can get a third base upgrade and an outfield upgrade, this team may find its way into the postseason.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer listed seven teams that are primed for a second half surge into the playoffs, including the Reds.
“They’re actually tied with the Red Sox for the most difficult remaining schedule in the league, for which it doesn’t help that they share the NL Central with three other playoff contenders,” wrote Rymer. “The Reds have nonetheless been playing good ball lately, going 22-14 since June 6. The offense has been in something of a groove, with Elly De La Cruz in particular posting a 151 wRC+ in this span.
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“There otherwise isn’t much question that the Reds can pitch, as they’re third in the league with a 116 ERA+. And while his timeline remains uncertain, they’ll only get stronger on the mound once staff ace Hunter Greene is back from a groin strain. In the meantime, the big question is whether the Reds will continue to play well enough to keep the front office on board. To this end, they’ll need to slay some dragons in series against the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers.”
The good news for the Reds is that they have already won the three-game series with the Mets, and the Dodgers have been one of the worst teams in baseball over the last couple weeks, believe it or not.
Cincinnati will need to lock in down the stretch to overcome the toughest remaining schedule, but they have as good a shot as any to make it to October.
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