Cincinnati Reds: Five bold predictions for the MLB Playoffs

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 25: The Cincinnati Reds celebrate after clinching a wild card spot in the postseason. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

The Reds return to the MLB Playoffs for the first time since 2013.

What a finish to the 2020 season for the Cincinnati Reds. This team overcame all the odds and head off to Atlanta to face the Braves in the Wild Card Series which begins on Wednesday at noon. Cincinnati finished the season 31-29, after being left for dead to begin the month of September. The Reds enter the MLB Playoffs as one of the hottest teams in baseball.

Cincinnati is white-hot, having won 11 of their last 14 games. The Reds are rolling at just the right time and send their ace, and likely NL Cy Young Award winner, Trevor Bauer to the hill on Wednesday afternoon against the Atlanta Braves. Bauer leads the National League in ERA (1.73), complete games (2) and WHIP (0.79).

The Braves are certainly good enough to win the National League, as Atlanta finished with the second-best record (35-26) in the NL. The Braves are heading to the MLB Playoffs for the third consecutive year and are led by the likes of Freddie Freeman, Marcell Ozuna, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Ozzie Albies.

It won’t be easy, but the Cincinnati Reds certainly have a chance versus the Atlanta Braves, and for that matter, every other team in the National League. As Reds Country braces for what they hope will be a month filled with exciting postseason baseball, what are five bold predictions for the playoff-bound Reds?

PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 04: Trevor Bauer #27 of the Cincinnati Reds delivers a pitch in the first inning. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

1. Reds starter Trevor Bauer pitches a complete game shutout.

Trevor Bauer is likely to take home his first Cy Young Award. However, at the rate he’s pitching, this may be one of many by the time Bauer’s career is complete. Bauer’s conditioning and workout regimen is highly successful, as evidence from his 12-strikeout performance against the Milwaukee Brewers on just three-days rest.

Bauer will get the ball in Game 1 versus the Atlanta and will not have pitched in over a week. Look for Bauer to shake the rust off early. With a league leading team-OPS of .832, the Atlanta Braves have one of the best offenses in the league. However, they swing and miss a lot. The Braves are second in the NL in strikeouts (573), so look for Bauer to be sitting hitters down early and often.

Over his last three starts, Trevor Bauer has slowly increased his number of innings pitched. During his last outing against Milwaukee, Bauer went eight innings, allowing just four hits and one run. He walked just one while punching out 12. I’d look for Bauer to continue that level of dominance on Wednesday afternoon.

David Bell is turning to Bauer in order to set the tone. The right-hander has had no problem all season being the team’s workhorse and leader on the mound. If Bauer is hitting his spots early, it could be a long afternoon for the Braves. Look for Bauer to take the ball into the ninth inning and finish off Atlanta in Game 1.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 08: Anthony DeSclafani #28 of the Cincinnati Reds pitches in the second inning (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

2. Anthony DeSclafani is left off the Reds playoff roster.

The Cincinnati Reds will only need three starters in the Wild Card Series, and if they advance, likely will only need four in the NLDS. I have to squint pretty hard in order to see Anthony DeScalfani being part of the Reds 2020 postseason roster.

We asked the question about a week ago; did DeScalfani start his final game for the Reds? The right-hander is a free agent this winter and his lack of consistency this season does not merit a contract extension. DeSclafani has worked out of the Reds bullpen twice this season and allowed four hits and three earned runs over four innings of work.

As far as starting pitchers go beyond the Wild Card Series, David Bell could turn to Tyler Mahle as his No. 4 starter, and, if needed, Wade Miley or Michael Lorenzen could be the team’s No. 5 starter in the NLDS, NLCS or World Series. Anthony DeSclafani may be the odd-man out when the playoff roster is revealed.

If it is indeed Disco’s last ride with the Reds, it has certainly been a tumultuous one. After staying healthy last season, many fans, myself included, expected DeScalfani to be a key member of this year’s starting rotation. But alas, it was not to be, and it’s highly probable that Disco will be watching the MLB Playoffs from his couch.

CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 14: Adam Frazier #26 of the Pittsburgh Pirates scores a run in the first inning as catcher Curt Casali #12 of the Cincinnati Reds awaits the throw during game two of a doubleheader. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

3. Reds catcher Curt Casali draws more starts than Tucker Barnhart.

While it’s debatable as to who the Cincinnati Reds starting catcher is, Curt Casali has done his best this season to lay claim to that position going forward. While a lot of Reds Country is excited about the future of Tyler Stephenson, Casali has played extremely well this season, both behind the plate and at the dish.

While Casali has fewer than 100 plate appearances this season, the 31-year-old backstop has the second-highest OPS (.866) on the team. That’s better than Joey Votto, Mike Moustakas, Nick Castellanos and Eugenio Suárez. It’s certainly better than Tucker Barnhart’s .679 OPS, who has about an additional 20 plate appearances.

While David Bell likes to play the matchups, he’s not been afraid to throw Curt Casali out there against right-handed pitchers. While Casali’s 1.067 OPS versus lefties is certainly impressive, his .733 OPS against right-handers is nothing to sneeze at. In fact, it’s just a few points behind Barnhart’s .774 OPS against right-handed pitchers.

Casali will no doubt draw the start in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series versus the Atlanta Braves, but I would wager we’d see Casali behind the plate for Game 3, if necessary, with former college teammate Sonny Gray on the mound. Look for Casali to get more starts than Barnhart during the MLB Playoffs, setting up some decisions for the front office this winter.

PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 05: Eugenio Suarez #7 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates his third home run of the game. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

4. Reds third baseman Eugenio Suárez crushes six home runs.

Obviously this prediction merits the Reds make it out of the Wild Card round, right? I fully expect Cincinnati to defeat Atlanta and move onto the NLDS where they’d play either the Chicago Cubs or Miami Marlins. Suárez has been heating up of late, hitting two runs and eight RBIs in his last seven games.

The only Reds hitter who’s hotter than Suárez is Mike Moustakas, and that will play to Geno’s advantage. Moose has blasted three round-trippers in the last six games and also has seven RBIs. With Suárez hitting in front of Moustakas in the batting order, he’s likely to see several pitches to hit. The last thing opposing pitchers will want to do is walk Suárez ahead of Moustakas.

Geno was second in the league last season with 49 home runs, and broke the record for most home runs in a season by a Venezuelan-born player. When Eugenio Suárez gets locked in, the balls leave the yard in bunches. Suárez already has a game this season in which he launched three balls into the seats.

Hopefully, a few of those home runs will come with runners on base. Suárez leads the club with 38 RBIs, and with Joey Votto now back in the No. 3 hole, it’s more likely Geno will be hitting with runners on base. Six home runs is pretty ambitious though. Just how far will the Reds go in the MLB Playoffs? That’s a great question.

CINCINNATI, OH – MAY 18: Matt Beaty #45 of the Los Angeles Dodgers plays defense at first base alongside Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

5. Reds advance to the NLCS, but fall to the Dodgers in six games.

The Cincinnati Reds most certainly have a good chance to advance past the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card Series, and could move past either the Chicago Cubs or Miami Marlins in order to advance to the NLCS. However, that’s where they’d likely meet the Los Angeles Dodgers, and I just can’t see this club making that type of leap this year.

The Dodgers are the most complete team in baseball. LA has great hitting, a solid rotation and their bullpen is good enough. If Cincinnati is able to advance to the NLCS, and I believe they will, I don’t know if they’ll have enough offense to take down the NL West Champs. The Dodgers lineup features Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, Chris Taylor and Cody Bellinger.

The Dodgers’ rotation is no slouch either. Former MVP and three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw owns a 6-2 record with a 2.16 ERA. Dustin May has emerged this season as a solid No. 1 behind Kershaw, putting up a 2.57 ERA in 12 games this season. Then there’s there relief corp of Kenley Jensen, Blake Treinen and former Reds pitcher Dylan Floro.

Next. 3 role players who must perform for the Reds

The Reds rotation is dangerous enough to give Cincinnati a puncher’s chance, but I just don’t trust this offense enough to take them beyond the NLCS. However, if the trio of Mike Moustakas, Nick Castellanos and Eugenio Suárez get hot, anything could happen. Here’s hoping for the best as the Reds enter the MLB Playoffs for the first time since 2013.

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