The Cincinnati Reds are five games back in the National League wild-card race heading into their August 5 game against the Athletics at Great American Ball Park. That’s the tough reality for a clubhouse that’s surprisingly upbeat after a trade deadline where few teams even bothered to show interest in their available players.
Nobody Wanted Them, And That’s Their Fuel
Talk about a chip on the shoulder! The home clubhouse felt seriously upbeat after the deadline. There’s a real resolve to embrace that underdog role and make a run. Some players are even saying they can use the lack of serious playoff contender interest as pure motivation. Reds outfielder JJ Bleday summed it up, “A lot of guys love playing here and have been wanting to stay. Whether teams were interested or not, we’ve still got to show up at 7 o’clock ready to go.” Manager Terry Francona’s playing it cool, telling reporters, “I don’t care what makes them play better. But I don’t know why they’d have a chip on their shoulder, because they know they’re wanted. I think they’re happy to be here. … That’s the last thing you want is somebody to stay here and say, ‘I wanted to go somewhere else.’” He just wants them focused on the game, not the drama.
The Wild Card Climb Is Steep This Year
The Reds are playing good baseball, going 11-6 since the All-Star break. Five games back might sound like a lot, but they were six games back on September 5 last year and still snagged a postseason spot. Relief pitcher Pierce Johnson is confident, saying, “We’re really not that far out. And if we to do what we’ve been doing, I feel like we’re in a pretty good spot.” But here’s the kicker: the front office wanted to be sellers. They definitely didn’t intentionally hold onto pending free agents like Tyler Stephenson, Brady Singer, Eugenio Suarez, Brock Burke, and Johnson hoping for some magic run. The truth is, the Reds are looking up at five teams fighting for that third wild-card spot. That’s nearly double the teams they had to leapfrog last season. Moving past that many with less than two months left? That’s seriously tough math. Plus, the National League is way stronger this year compared to last, when the Reds clinched with just 83 wins.
If the Reds are gonna make a run, it absolutely has to happen now. Their September schedule is brutal, with 16 games against NL division leaders Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. This stretch isn’t just about this season; it’s about proving if this rebuild, which kicked off in 2022, is actually working. Plus, Francona’s entering the final guaranteed year of his contract next year. The pressure is on tonight against the Athletics to keep that momentum rolling. Will this underdog group surprise everyone, or will it be the same old story?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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