Reds: How the playoff race shapes up over the final month-plus

The Cincinnati Reds are in the middle of a heated race to determine an NL Wild Card spot heading into the final 43 games of the 2021 season. Coming off a series win over the Philadelphia Phillies, let’s take a closer look at where the team currently sits in the chase for October.

After the Reds win yesterday against the Phillies, the club currently sits 2.5 games back from the final Wild Card spot that is currently in possession by the San Diego Padres. The Reds have a steeper mountain in the NL Central, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by 8 games.

While winning the division isn’t completely out of the question, the Reds continue to inch closer and closer to the final Wild Card spot.

The Reds are in the hunt for the Wild Card and the NL Central title.

The Wild Card spot that is up for grabs shows that Cincinnati is not alone in the tight race to surpass the Padres. Division rival, the St. Louis Cardinals, sit 4.5 games back, and the Phillies currently sit 5 games back from the spot. Every game counts right now, and the schedule favors Cincinnati to finish out the season.

The strength of schedule for the remainder of the regular season has the Reds and Phillies with the easiest paths to a Wild Card spot. The Reds still have to play the Brewers in one more three-game series and a date with the defending World Series champs, the Dodgers, in a three-game series in September.

Cincinnati, however, gets nine more games against the Pittsburgh Pirates this year; a team, the Reds, have handled well, holding a 9-1 overall record this season.

With the Wild Card spot within their grasp, the Reds still can’t be counted out to make a run on the NL Central leading Brewers. The Brewers have the 7th hardest schedule remaining in the MLB, with series matchups against the San Francisco Giants and the Dodgers.

Next week, the three-game series against the Brewers, the Reds’ last clash with Milwaukee this season, will be crucial in deciding the teams’ chances at a run for the division crown.

Important baseball is being played in Cincinnati is way head to October. The team is seeking back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since the 2012-2013 seasons. The team will be starting a seven-game homestand this evening as they welcome the Chicago Cubs for a three-game series before the Miami Marlins come to town on Thursday.

Cincinnati will have a chance to control their playoff destiny. Buckle up Redlegs, the next month and a half will be fun, nerve-racking, important baseball.