Reds are quietly creating a problem that could cost them later

The Cincinnati Reds entered the 2026 campaign with postseason aspirations, and their lightning fast start to the season certainly suggested they were on track to turn those dreams a reality. But the Reds have dropped six straight games — four of which were one-run losses — and that could come back to haunt them later this year if Cincinnati is vying for a playoff spot in September.

It's worth stating the obvious that it's still extremely early. The Reds haven't even played 40 games and are still three games over .500 despite this miserable stretch. Prior to this six-game skid, Cincinnati was one of the hottest teams in baseball.

But it also must be stated that every game counts the same when they're all tallied up at the end of the year. As such, the Cincinnati faithful are hoping that these one-run losses don't keep the Reds at home during the month of October.

Reds can't keep giving winnable games away

The Reds were blown out of the water last Friday and Saturday by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Bucs embarrassed the Reds in front of a national television audience on Friday night, and then piled on even more runs on Saturday. Pittsburgh outscored Cincinnati 26-8 during the first two games of that series.

But the Pirates narrowly escaped defeat during Sunday's series finale, winning by a final score of 1-0 courtesy of an Oneil Cruz go-ahead RBI in the bottom of the eighth inning. That was the first one-run loss Cincinnati incurred this season.

Little did they know, however, that more disappointment awaited them in the Windy City. Heading into play on Thursday, the Reds have lost three consecutive games to the Chicago Cubs, all of which came in walk-off fashion.

Michael Conforto's ninth-inning blast gave Chicago the 5-4 on Monday. Elly De La Cruz's error in extra innings handed Chicago a 3-2 win on Tuesday. And Brock Burke walked in the winning run on Wednesday night, and the Reds fell by the final score of 7-6 in the 10th inning.

There are a myriad of reasons why the Reds lost those games — not the least of which is an inability to hit with runners in scoring position. But the why isn't necessarily as important as the result. The Reds were in every game, and yet couldn't find a way to win. Good teams find a way, and at the moment, Cincinnati is not a good team.

Furthermore, the cushion that the Reds built during the first month of the season is gone. They enter Thursday's game — while still three games above .500 — in last place in the division. It's going to be dog fight for NL Central supremacy all season, and the Reds have to get back to playing clean, winning baseball before they dig themselves into a hole that will be impossible to climb out of.

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