What are the Cincinnati Reds playoff chances 35 games into the 2023 season?

Last night, the Cincinnati Reds began a three-game series against the New York Mets. Sitting with a 15-20 record, five games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Compared to last year's start, the Reds are playing much better, but what are their chances at securing a playoff spot this year? With 127 games remaining in the young season, the Reds have a 0.5-percent chance to make the playoffs via Baseball-Reference.

The Milwaukee Brewers lead the National League Central with a 81.6-percent chance to make the playoffs. The Chiacgo Cubs are second with a 40.6-percent chance, and the St. Louis Cardinals, despite being in last place, are in third with a 37.6-percent chance. The Pirates come in fourth with a 26-percent chance.

Joey Votto is another player who could give the Reds a better chance to make the playoffs, But when is the former NL MVP coming back? On May 5th, courtesy of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Votto said he would be back on a rehab assignment in "the not too distant future."

One last move would be to call up left-handed starter Andrew Abbott who has been tearing it up in Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. With his limited experience in Triple-A, calling him up to The Show could be one of the more risky moves this season.

A few winning streaks and calling up their young prospects would certainly give the Cincinnati Reds their best shot at making the playoffs since the 2020 season; granted the league only played 60 regular-season games that year.

FanGraphs is a bit more kind to Cincinnati, giving the Reds a 1.1-percent chance of making the postseason. The Brewers still lead the way with a 67.3-percent chance.