The Reds battle the White Sox with the MLB Playoffs in sight

The Reds control their postseason fortunes as they host the playoff-bound White Sox.

How we looking now Reds Country? What a difference a week makes. Last Friday, we were talking about the Cincinnati Reds 2020 Disappointment Tour limping into St. Louis and this weekend we’re thinking about clearing our October calendars for postseason baseball.

That’s what happens when you win 6-of-7 games down the stretch. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, because the Reds (25-26) have plenty of obstacles still ahead of them. If the Reds do, in fact, qualify for the playoffs, they will have earned it.

Cincinnati’s last nine games are against a team already in the postseason, the Chicago White Sox. Another, trailing the Reds by just one game, in the Milwaukee Brewers are up next. Finally, a team who is one the verge of securing a playoff spot, the Minnesota Twins, represent the final three games of the season. Buckle up! It’s going to be a wild 10 days to close out the regular season.

Despite sweeping a four-game set against the dismal Pittsburgh Pirates, there are still plenty of question marks concerning the Redlegs offense. Over the course of those four games, the Reds only managed to score more than four runs once. In fact, the Reds collected only 21 hits and failed to dent the plate for ten consecutive innings between Game 3 and 4 of the series.

What the Reds did well against the Pirates was pitch lights-out baseball. Trevor Bauer and Luis Castillo were masterful in their starts, while Michael Lorenzen, who was making his first start in nearly two years, provided a tremendous boost by tossing five innings of one-run ball and fanning six Bucs without allowing a free pass.

Don’t be surprised if we see the Zen Master make another start, and that’s partly due to the arrival of Archie Bradley. Since arriving in the Queen City following an August 31st deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Bradley has yet to surrender a run in five appearances.

Tossing 6.2 innings, Bradley has recorded five strikeouts without yielding a walk and giving up just three hits. It’s too early yet to tell, but the Bradley deal just may be the missing ingredient for this roster to reach it’s full potential.

Whether it’s hitting or pitching, the White Sox have been dominant.

Entering the 2020 season, the Chicago White Sox (33-17) had high expectations despite playing in a top-heavy American League Central where the Minnesota Twins were coming off a 100-win season, and a very competitive Cleveland Indians club is never easy to dispatch.

Nevertheless, the White Sox have exceeded those lofty expectations and roll into Great American Ball Park with the best record on the junior circuit and are winners of eight of their last 10 contests.

Reds Country, don’t expect Sox fans to shed any tears about the Redlegs playoff drought. When the White Sox take the field this postseason, it will be their first appearance in the playoffs since the 2008 season. There’s no secret sauce to the South Siders success. They simply dominate in all phases of the game.

Entering play Thursday, the White Sox offense leads the American League with a .272 average and slugging with a .468 mark. Additionally, they are second in the league with a .334 OBP. Next, the Sox hit for power as well. Their 81 round-trippers trail only the New York Yankees and their 82 doubles are good enough for fifth in the AL. Needless to say, the Reds pitching staff has a tall order ahead of them this weekend.

However, the Reds offense will be tested just as thoroughly as the pitching staff. White Sox hurlers are second in the junior circuit with a 3.46 ERA and have allowed a league-low 48 homers on the season. For an offense that relies on the home run as heavily as Cincinnati does to score runs, this weekend will test Reds Country’s patience.

Don’t overlook Chicago’s defense either. Their 27 defensive runs saved above-average mark is tied with the Indians for the best in the American League. The 42 double plays the defense has turned ranks fifth among AL defensive units and is well above the league average of 37 twin killings. No matter the phase of the game, the White Sox are one of the most complete teams in the game.

The South Side Hitmen have not one, but two MVP candidates.

First baseman Jose Abreu is having another monster season on Chicago’s South Side. Going into play yesterday, he leads the American League in hits, RBIs, total bases and is second in home runs. Producing a slash line of .327/.367/.629 with an eye-popping 167 OPS+, the 33-year-old Cuban is wreaking serious havoc on opponent’s pitching staffs.

These ridiculous offensive numbers are nothing new for Abreu. Since his rookie MLB season of 2014, the three-time All-Star has captured three Silver Slugger awards and a Rookie of the Year trophy for his mantlepiece.

Through his first six seasons, Abreu has hit at least 22 homers and drove in more than 100 runs five times, including an AL-best 123 last season. Jose Abreu is simply a one-man wrecking crew with the bat.

As frightening as Abreu’s numbers are, there’s a strong argument that he’s not even the biggest offensive threat on his own team. Shortstop Tim Anderson is a superstar in the making. The 27-year-old currently leads the American League with a .373 average and his 41 runs scored also tops the rankings. This is coming off a 2019 campaign in which Anderson won the AL batting crown with a .335 average.

Anderson’s slash line of .373/.410/.596 with a 1.006 OPS is going to give any opposing manager and pitching coach nightmares. Next, his impressive 172 OPS+ leads the White Sox and is good enough for fourth in the AL just ahead of teammate Jose Abreu. Reds backstops will need to be prepared when Anderson reaches base as well. Since his rookie season in 2016, he’s swiped 73 bases.

Voters for the American League MVP are going to have a tough decision to make this year. Tim Anderson currently leads the AL with a 2.4 fWAR while Abreu is fourth with a 2.2 fWAR. In between are a couple of Angels, Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon, who are members of a fourth-place team. Regardless of who captures the AL MVP, there’s no doubt in my mind it should be Abreu or Anderson.