Cincinnati Reds: Five bold predictions for the second half of 2020 season

What’s going to happen in the second half of the Reds 2020 season?

We’ve reached the midway point of the Cincinnati Reds 2020 campaign and the team is inexcusably sitting at 13-17. However, despite a sub-.500 record through the first half of the pandemic-shortened season, Cincinnati finds themselves just one game out of the final Wild Card spot in the National League. What’s going to happen over the final 30 games?

If you would have told me back before spring training that the Reds would be a game out of the playoffs halfway through the 2020 season, I’d have been smiling ear to ear. However, after the coronavirus pandemic has shortened the season to just 60 games and MLB expanded the playoffs to include eight teams, my excitement has been dulled a bit.

This year’s Reds team was built to contend, but several lost opportunities against lesser competition, multiple implosions by the bullpen, inconsistent offense, bad defense and a four-day hiatus from play has left David Bell and the Cincinnati front office with more questions than answers. Where is that team that should be competing for the division crown.

Back-to-back wins over the Milwaukee Brewers offer a glimmer of hope for and it appears that the team’s offense has emerged from its slumber. Cincinnati enters play on Friday with a golden opportunity. The Reds trail the division-leading Chicago Cubs by five games and get three against their division rivals at Great American Ball Park. What will happen in thee second half?