Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
With about a month left in the regular season, the Cincinnati Reds are the third-place team in the National League Central, and trail the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates, who are currently tied for first place in the division, by 3.5 games.
The Reds really don’t have much of a chance to win the division; it will likely come down to the Cardinals and Pirates. Most likely, the Cardinals, Pirates and Reds will all make the playoffs; one as a division winner and the other two as wildcard teams.
Unless they can put together a great run, the Cincinnati Reds will probably finish as the No. 2 wildcard team, they would then have to play a one-game playoff against the No. 1 wildcard team.
If you’re the Cincinnati Reds, you should be rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals to win the NL Central. That sounds crazy, considering they are the Reds’ biggest rivals, but it makes sense.
Like I said, the Reds will have to play in a one-game playoff against the other wildcard team, and it would be a road game for the Reds. Who would you rather the Reds play one must-win game against, the Cards or Pirates? Obviously, the Pirates.
The Cardinals have dominated the Reds this year, they have won 10 of 15 games, and the Reds really struggle to play at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Even though the Reds are loaded with talent, the Cardinals always get their way against them, and it’s been that way for years.
Of course the Reds haven’t been great against Pittsburgh this year, either. The Buccos have won seven of 13 games against the Reds, but if you look at the runs scored vs. runs allowed, the Pirates look a lot beatable than the Cards. The Reds have scored 46 runs against the Pirates and have allowed 45 runs, that’s pretty good. But, against the Cardinals, the Reds have scored 59 runs and surrendered 93 runs.
It may be hard, but if you’re a Cincinnati Reds’ fan, you should want the St. Louis Cardinals to win the division.
Coop Ledford is a Cincinnati Reds writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @CoopLed and add him on Google Plus.
