Late Season Charge
Just a few weeks shy of having the Major League’s worst record and being fourteen games out of first place, the Cincinnati Reds have found a little life. Thanks to some stumbling by a couple of teams in front of them, and a recent six game winning streak, the Reds find themselves a mere seven games out of first place with a little over a month left in the season.
Since firing Jerry Narron, the Reds have the NL’s best record at 29-19. The Milwaukee Brewers have successfully stumbled out of first place and given the Chicago Cubs a taste of first place. Injuries seem to be plaguing the Cubs, so it’s anyone’s guess if they can hold on to the lead. The St. Louis Cardinals have remained consistent all season, and they sit in third place, just two and a half games out of first.
While it’s not probable the Reds can gain enough momentum to get back in the race, it’s not impossible by any means. Especially in the league’s worst division. Last season, the Reds all but gave up in September, only to find themselves three games out with a week left in the season and a series with the eventual World Series champions (St. Louis) in front of them. They didn’t pull it off, but hopefully learned a valuable lesson - never, ever give up.
It should be an exciting September in the central division. Anything can happen in baseball, so I wouldn’t rule out a tight, four-team race for the division crown heading into the last week of the season.