How about those Cincinnati Reds? Terry Francona’s squad has caught fire, emerging as the hottest team in the National League. They just wrapped up a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays at home, pushing their winning streak to four games.
With a 56-50 record — their best mark of the season — the Reds now trail the San Diego Padres by just one game for the final NL Wild Card spot.
They’ve won 10 of their last 14 contests, as noted by MLB after Sunday’s victory.
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Cincinnati’s success has come in various forms, but lately, it’s been the pitching staff leading the charge. The Reds have allowed only five runs over their last four games. Offensively, they rank 14th in team batting average at .248, while limiting opponents to just 7.8 hits per game — good for 7th in the league.
In Sunday’s win, the Reds plated two runs in the first inning, which proved to be all they needed. Tampa Bay’s only score came on a solo homer from Taylor Walls in the eighth.
Next up, the red-hot Reds will try to keep rolling as they welcome the Los Angeles Dodgers for a three-game set starting Monday.
