The Cincinnati Reds Playoff Odds Jump After Sweep

The Cincinnati Reds have not been quite up to the standard that its rabid fanbase holds it to. "Where ya gonna go," asks the tone-deaf ownership.

It has been 11 seasons (10 non-COVID seasons) since the Reds made it to the postseason. Sure, they snuck in during the truncated 2020 season, but when weighing the success of the team, you can omit that season.

The last time the Reds made the playoffs was in 2013. The year prior was the last time the team finished better than third in the division as was the last division title. 1995 was the last time the team even won a postseason series.

That 2013 season was the last time the team finished better than two games over .500.

Now, winners of 13 of their last 21, and on a four-game win streak, the Reds' odds have gotten a tad better. Entering play on Friday before the weekend series against the Kansas City Royals, the Reds are nine games back in the division and four games back from the final wild card spot.

According to Baseball-Reference, the Reds have a 17.9% chance of making the postseason and a 1.8% chance of taking the division. They are expecting the Reds to get back to where they finished a year ago at around 82-20. Their odds jumped 9.2% over the past seven days.

As usual, Fangraphs is bet more pessimistic when it comes to a Reds October. They give Cincinnati a 5.2% chance of making the postseason and a 1.7% chance of taking the division.

Some perspective: That month of May really messed up this team. The Reds went 9-18 in the month.

Since May 24, however, the team is 40-31.

The Reds of late are showing that they are better than their record would indicate. If they can keep up this pace, they'll continue to see their odds increase until the final week.