Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds, MLB (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Reds are red hot heading into the postseason
Cincinnati’s lineup came alive at the right time down the stretch, and we all know about their ridiculous rotation that features two of the best starting pitchers in all of baseball in NL Cy Young candidate Trevor Bauer plus the always reliable Sonny Gray.
What’s most dangerous about this team is that the Reds know they’re playing with house money.
“We feel like we built we built momentum at the right time,” Michael Lorenzen told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Teams have built momentum going into the playoff are a dangerous team, so we have a lot to prove and a team that has a lot to prove as a dangerous team. We’re excited about it.”
The Reds clinched their first playoff berth since 2013 on Friday
Losses by the Phillies and Brewers set up the Reds to clinch. It’s been a long time coming for a franchise that struggled to pick a direction, flirting with a rebuild before going all-out with several game-changing moves the last few offseasons. Landing Gray from the Yankees was immense, as was trading for Bauer last year.
Cincinnati is slated to face the Atlanta Braves right now, and considering the pitching edge they’ll have in that matchup, baseball pundits have no reason to doubt them.
“We’re a (expletive) nightmare and everyone knows that,” Votto said in the heat of the moment on Friday.
The Reds are essentially tied with the Cardinals for the second spot in the NL Central as well. So while they’re currently slotted to face the Braves, that could all change should St. Louis falter down the stretch.
Votto’s message is clear, though. It doesn’t matter who they face in the Wild Card round — the Reds will be ready.