Reds Favored to Hang On To Final NL Wild Card Spot
Just a few short weeks ago, it seemed like the NL West would take up both wild card spots in the National League. The San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers were (and still are) battling it out for the division crown, and the team that ends upl finishing second will claim the first wild card spot. The San Diego Padres, while not in the hunt for the division, still seemed like they’d lock down the second wild card spot in the league.
That’s no longer the case.
A rough August that has seen the Padres lose eight of their last 10 games, has caused them to fall out of a wild card spot. The slump provided the perfect opportunity for the Cincinnati Reds, who now hold a one-game lead on the Padres for the final playoff berth.
WynnBET has released odds to make the MLB playoffs, and the Reds are now -140 favorites to make it into the postseason, while the Padres’ odds have dropped to +185. The St. Louis Cardinals are also still technically in the mix, but they’re a long shot to make it in at +1000 odds.
The Reds have been on fire in August, sporting a 14-9 record this month. The hot-streak has been largely thanks to their offense, which ranks second in MLB in runs scored during this stretch, racking up 128 of them. Only the Tampa Bay Rays have scored more runs in August with 146.
The Reds also have a much more favorable schedule the rest of the way out. They only have five games the rest of the regular season against teams that are currently in a playoff spot; three against the Dodgers and two against the Chicago White Sox.
Meanwhile, the Padres have a murderer's row of teams they need to face the rest of the way out, with 22 of their remaining games coming against playoff teams. They still have to play the Dodgers and Giants in two series each, while also having to take on the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves in a three-game series.
Given how each team has played recently, as well as their remaining schedule, the Reds are a fantastic value bet to make the playoffs at -140 at WynnBET.
Want to bet on the Reds? Think the Padres can still make it in? Download the WynnBET app and get in on the action.