Reds receive good news as MLB playoff schedule offers favorable advantage

Okay, let's not put the cart before the horse, right? The Cincinnati Reds are currently clinging the last Wild Card spot in the National League.

The Chicago Cubs are nipping at their heels, and the Milwaukee Brewers maintain a slight edge in the NL Central. But, with Jonathan India, Hunter Greene, and Nick Lodolo all readying for a return, the Reds should feel pretty good about their playoff positioning.

According to Tankathon.com, the Reds strength of schedule over the final two months of the season ranks 23rd in Major League Baseball. The only NL club who has it better is the Cubs.

Reds receive good news as MLB playoff schedule offers favorable advantage.

But, Major League Baseball may have given the Cincinnati Reds a huge advantage after revealing the upcoming postseason schedule. If the Reds are able to get out of the Wild Card Round, which of course won't be easy, the NLDS schedule would give a team's starting pitchers plenty of rest.

According to MLB.com, the playoffs start on October 3rd with the Wild Card Round. Remember, with six teams from each league now making the postseason, one division winner will be part of the Wild Card Round.

That division winner is most likely to come from the NL Central. So even if the Reds are able to win the division over the next several weeks, chances are good they'd be playing during the Wild Card Round. If Cincinnati is able to advance past that round of the playoff, the NLDS is where things get interesting.

Unlike the American League Division Series, which will follow the traditional two games played at the higher seed's home stadium followed by an off day before two games at the lower seed's ballpark, the National League Division Series has days off following Game 1, Game 2, and Game 3.

Those extra days off in between games will inevitably allow the Cincinnati Reds, and frankly every other National League team, to give their starting pitchers more adequate rest - something that's virtually unheard of during the postseason.

But first things, first. The Cincinnati Reds shook off their six-game losing streak last night and will be back at tonight with Game 2 of a three-game series against the Miami Marlins. Both teams are currently jockeying for position in the very competitive NL playoff race.