Reds: Cubs’ fire sale gives Cincinnati a leg up on the Milwaukee Brewers

The Cincinnati Reds play the Chicago Cubs 10 times over the next two-plus months. The Milwaukee Brewers only have seven games left against the North Siders. With the Cubbies likely to sell off most of their assets, the Reds may gain an advantage over the Brewers with those additional three games against what will no doubt be a weakened Chicago team.

The Cubs are in no-man’s land. After shipping Joc Pederson off to Atlanta, Chicago has effectively given up on the 2021 season. Pederson won’t be the last member of the Cubs to find a new area code in the coming weeks.

Look for Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo, Craig Kimbrel, and Kris Bryant could all be on the move before July 30th. In fact, the New York Mets are rumored to be interested in trading for the Cubbies’ third baseman and former MVP.

The Cubs’ loss is the Reds’ gain.

The Cincinnati Reds begin a crucial three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers this evening at Great American Ball Park. After that, Cincinnati has just one more visit to American Family Field this season, and that will wrap up the season series with the Brewers.

But, the Reds go on the road to Wrigley later this month for a four-game series against the Cubs. Cincinnati’s visit to the Windy City come just days before the July 30th trade deadline, and there’s a good chance the Cubbies will be a team in transition.

The Cubs then return to GABP in mid-August and the Reds wrap up their season series with the North Siders during the first full week of September. In all likelihood, all the key pieces to Chicago’s World Series Championship team will be off to other contenders by the time Cincinnati has to face them again.

The Brewers on the other hand, have a four-game road series against the Cubs in Chicago during the month of August and return home for a three-game set in the Cream City. Those seven games are the only contests Craig Counsell’s crew have remaining against the Chicago Cubs.

The Cincinnati Reds also have 13 games remaining against the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates, and the Milwaukee Brewers have just nine. Considering that both the Buccos and the Cubbies will likely occupying the NL Central basement for the remainder of the 2021 season, the Reds have a clear advantage over the Brewers in terms of the opponents remaining on the schedule.