The Reds are suddenly the most dangerous team in the MLB playoffs

The Cincinnati Reds snuck into the MLB playoffs by the skin of their teeth — thanks in large part to the New York Mets' second-half collapse — and yet they're arguably the most dangerous team entering postseason play. Why? Because they've got nothing to lose.

Entering the month of September, the Reds were 70-68 and had a 4.3% chance to make the playoffs. At the time, the Mets' playoff odds were sitting at 94.5%. Fast forward to Sunday afternoon, and it was the Reds who were popping champagne in the clubhouse, not the Mets.

It's easy to dismiss this year's Reds team. They have just one superstar player in Elly De La Cruz, and there were times during the season when even he looked unplayable. Cincinnati's payroll is among the bottom one-third of the league, and their Wild Card matchup is against the high-dollar Los Angeles Dodgers. There's also that anemic offense that, after the All-Star break, ranked 24th in OPS.

The Reds are suddenly the most dangerous team in the MLB playoffs

By all accounts, the Reds don't match up well against any other contender in this year's MLB playoff bracket. But Cincinnati has won 9 of their last 13 games, including series wins over the Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, and Milwaukee Brewers — all teams who are in this year's postseason.

The Reds have struggled against the worst teams this season — Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, and Washington Nationals — but have a winning record against some of the best teams in baseball. Cincinnati is 44-42 against teams with a winning record.

Cincinnati also has arguably the most talented starting rotation in this year's playoffs. Only the Philadelphia Phillies' rotation (21.5 fWAR) has a higher fWAR than the Reds' starters (16.1 fWAR). he Phillies are now without their ace, Zack Wheeler, so Cincy may have already passed them by.

The Reds have also seen their star player — De La Cruz — step up big the past two weeks. After being mired in a horrific post-All-Star break slump, De La Cruz has found his power again and is hitting .279/.404/.535 with three home runs and 170 wRC+ over his last 13 games.

This is a team who's playing really good baseball at the moment, and they're playing with house money. They also just happen to have a future Hall of Fame manager at the helm who's won the World Series on two different occasions.

You're free to doubt or dismiss the Reds if you'd like, but do so at your own peril.

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