"The Reds completed a four-game sweep of the Cubs over the weekend. They've won five straight and pulled into a tie with the reeling Mets for the National League's last playoff spot. Cincinnati went 4-2 against New York, meaning they have the tiebreaker. They also hold the tiebreaker over the Diamondbacks, who find themselves one game back. Cincinnati now controls their own destiny."
"As they enter that critical stretch, the Reds are facing a potential absence from their left fielder. Austin Hays made an early exit from Saturday's game with back spasms. He sat out yesterday's series finale. Manager Terry Francona said on Saturday the team is hopeful that Hays will be ready for the start of the Pittsburgh series tomorrow (via the MLB.com injury tracker). The off day gives him a little extra rest."
"The Reds have made their push back into the playoff picture despite a disappointing stretch from Elly De La Cruz. The switch-hitting shortstop has hit .212/.271/.315 in almost 200 trips to the plate since the beginning of August. He homered off Porter Hodge on Friday, his first longball in more than six weeks. The slump got to a point where Francona felt he needed to drop De La Cruz in the batting order."
Cincinnati completed a four-game sweep of the Cubs and won five straight to tie the Mets for the National League's final playoff spot. The Reds went 4-2 against New York and hold that head-to-head tiebreaker, and they also possess the tiebreaker over the Diamondbacks, who sit one game back. Cincinnati has an off day before hosting Pittsburgh for three games and finishes at Milwaukee. Left fielder Austin Hays left Saturday's game with back spasms and sat out the finale; he may be available for the Pittsburgh series. If Hays cannot play, Will Benson could move to left and Noelvi Marte to right. Elly De La Cruz has struggled since August, hitting .212/.271/.315 and was dropped in the batting order.
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