Reds playoff bracket looks like a nightmare, but NL favorites will be on upset alert

The Cincinnati Reds are back in the MLB Postseason as the No. 6 seed in the NL playoff bracket. The Reds' first opponent will be the reigning World Champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Cincinnati will go on the road to LA for the NL Wild Card Series, and while most experts are sure to count them out, the Reds have a puncher's chance against the Dodgers.

The Reds will likely send Hunter Greene to the mound for Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series. That alone gives Cincinnati a legitimate opportunity to steal the first game of the series. After that, Reds manager Terry Francona will probably turn to Nick Lodolo and (if necessary) Andrew Abbott.

The Wild Card round is short series — only three games — and that bodes well for the Reds. If Greene can deep into Game 1 and keep Los Angeles' lineup in check, the ole Redlegs might be able to scratch a low-scoring victory against the defending World Series champs.

Things don't get any easier for the Reds if they get past the Dodgers in the Wild Card Series

If the Reds are fortunate enough to outlast the Dodgers, they'll then have to pack their bags and head for Philadelphia for the National League Division Series. The NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies will get the winner of the Reds-Dodgers series, with Game 1 of the NLDS set to begin on Saturday, October 4 at Citizen's Bank Park.

This year, the Reds split the season-series against the Phillies. With Zack Wheeler out of commission for Philadelphia, perhaps Cincinnati can exploit the Phillies lack of starting depth and advance to the NLCS — a destination they've not been since 1995.

No matter who advances from the other side of the bracket, the Reds would be on the road to open the NLCS. While the Reds and Dodgers meet in the Wild Card Series this week, the San Diego Padres will head to Wrigley Field for the other NL Wild Card matchup against the Chicago Cubs. The winner of that series will go on the road to play the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.

The Reds are a scrappy bunch, and won 9 of their last 13 games to advance to the MLB Postseason. Cincinnati outlasted better ball clubs with higher payrolls, but now that they're in the playoffs, all they have to do is win and advance. It's a tall task, but Francona's been here before. That has to count for something.

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