High-stakes Reds playoff push collides with perfectly timed Cubs clash

The Cincinnati Reds are set to begin their final homestand of the 2025 regular season and will welcome one of their bitter rivals — the Chicago Cubs — to town. The Reds, coming off a series victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, are in must-win mode and need to take at least 3-of-4 from the Cubbies in order to stay in the hunt for the final NL Wild Card spot.

Three National League teams — including the Cubs — have already punched their ticket to the MLB Postseason. Chicago clinched their trip to the playoffs on Wednesday with a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates and will be making their return to the postseason after a four-year absence. That could work in the Reds' favor.

The Cubs have very little to play for over the remainder of the season. The Milwaukee Brewers magic number is down to seven, meaning Chicago is unlikely to take home the NL Central crown, and will almost certainly be one of the three NL Wild Card teams. Furthermore, they hold a five-game edge over the San Diego Padres with 10 games to play, and are likely to host the Wild Card Series against the Friars (or the Los Angeles Dodgers). In other words, they've all but locked up the No. 4 seed in the playoffs.

Reds playoff push collides with perfectly timed series vs. playoff-bound Cubs

The Cubs, though unlikely to shut it down and coast into the month of October, no longer need to have the pedal the metal. They're in! As such, they can use the remainder of their schedule to gain some much-needed rest at this point of the season and have their stars healthy heading into postseason play.

Chicago is already without star outfielder Kyle Tucker who's currently on the injured list and the Cubs haven't even set their rotation for the upcoming series against the Reds. Though Cincinnati will likely have to tangle with both Cade Horton and Shota Imanaga, Cubs' manager Craig Counsell may not be inclined to push his starters much beyond five innings — something that could give Cincinnati an advantage.

The Reds also received an added boost this week after watching the San Francisco Giants lose 2-of-3 to the Arizona Diamondbacks. San Fran is now 20-25 against the NL West while Cincy is 19-23 versus the NL Central. Those intradivision records are crucial in the event that the Reds and Giants are tied at the end of the season.

There's no guarantee that the Cubs plan to shut it down upon their arrival to Cincinnati, but they can certainly take their foot off the gas. The Reds have a chance to get right back in the thick of the NL Wild Card race, and could be catching the Cubs at the perfect time.

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