As the Cincinnati Reds enter the upcoming series against the Milwaukee Brewers, they're just a ½ game back in the chase for the final NL Wild Card spot. The New York Mets continue to flounder and have helped the Reds increase their playoff odds to 20.9% heading into Friday's contest against the Brew Crew.
But Cincinnati can't just sit back and wait for the Mets to implode — though that strategy may actually work. The Reds need to prove beyond a shadow of doubt that they belong in the playoff conversation, and a strong showing against Major League Baseball's best team will do just that.