The Cincinnati Reds have started off August going 1-1 and splitting their last series with the Pittsburgh Pirates, (the last game resulted in a bench clearing brawl that you can read about here), and are 5-5 in their last 10 games. With a record of 47-56, they are 9.5 games behind a second wild card spot, and are a whopping 19 games behind the first place St. Louis Cardinals.
The upcoming three game series in Cincinnati is a great chance for the Reds to gain some much needed games on the Cardinals, with expectations being high after the Reds won their last series from the Cardinals in St.