Cincinnati Reds might just grab final NL Wild Card spot

Sep 1, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) reacts with manager Terry Francona (77) after the victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Reds have not necessarily played good baseball since the All-Star break. The pitching has been a bit up and down, the team’s best player needed to be moved down in the lineup, and the team owned a losing record since the Midsummer Classic.

However, this race has been interesting. The New York Mets cannot stop losing baseball games and the Reds have gone 5-1 since being swept by the Athletics last weekend in Sacramento. Now Terry Francona’s first team at Great American Ballpark sits just one game back of the Mets following a 6-3 victory over the Cubs to clinch a four-game series.

The @Reds are now just 1 game back of the 3rd NL Wild Card spot! pic.twitter.com/nX8xpfWtRc
— MLB (@MLB) September 21, 2025

Cincinnati (79-76) saw Elly De La Cruz end his very long home run drought on Friday night and the squad followed it up with three dingers on Saturday night to officially pull within one game. The Reds have one more game against the Cubs on Sunday afternoon before hosting the last-place Pirates for a three-game series on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Mets will travel to Wrigley Field to play the Cubs.

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The Reds have a real shot to make the postseason for the first time since 2020. We all need the Reds back in the postseason. Can they get over the hump and can the Mets keep losing? It seems really possible right now.

October baseball in Great American Ball Park would be pretty cool.

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