The 2025 Major League Baseball regular season is coming to a close and the Cincinnati Reds remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.The Milwaukee Brewers appear to have the National League Central division wrapped up, but with 19 games remaining, the Reds enter Monday four games behind in the race for the third and final NL wild card spot.The spot currently belongs to the New York Mets, who the Reds took two of three games from in a weekend series at Great American Ball Park from Sept. 5-7.Could the Reds use that momentum and make a late charge for a postseason spot? The odds are long, but not insurmountable. Below is what you need to know as the playoff race enters the home stretch into September.StandingsTaking last weekend’s series against the Mets was a step in the right direction for the Reds, but New York still maintained its grip on the third NL wild card position.In addition to the Reds, the Mets are being chased by the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals for the final spot. Below is how the standings look entering games on Monday, Sept. 8.Division leaders: Milwaukee Brewers (Central), Philadelphia Phillies (East) and Los Angeles Dodgers (West.)Wild Card: Chicago Cubs: 81-62San Diego Padres: 78-65New York Mets: 76-67Cincinnati Reds: 72-71 (4 games back)San Francisco Giants: 72-71 (4 games back)Arizona Diamondbacks: 72-72 (4.5 games back)St. Louis Cardinals: 72-72 (4.5 games back)Playoff oddsOutlets are updating their MLB playoffs daily as the season comes to a close and some of the odds machines are kinder to the Reds than others.Fangraphs gives the Reds just a 3.9 percent chance of making the playoffs, while giving the Mets a 93.4 percent chance of snagging a spot. Baseball-Reference is a bit more hopeful on the Reds’ chances, giving Terry Francona’s club a 13.5 percent chance to make the playoffs.ESPN Analytics gives the Reds an eight percent chance at making the postseason, entering play on Monday.Remaining scheduleOf the 19 games left on Cincinnati’s schedule, 10 of them will be against teams that are currently in the NL playoff picture.That stretch begins Monday night, with the Reds traveling to San Diego for three games against the Padres. From there, the Reds will battle the Athletics on the road for three games and then head to St. Louis for their final three games against the Cardinals this season.The divisional games won’t stop there for the Reds, however, who will then host the Chicago Cubs for four games and the Pittsburgh Pirates for three games in their final homestand at Great American Ball Park this season.The Reds will close out the 2025 regular season with three games against the Brewers from Sept. 26-28.

CINCINNATI —

The 2025 Major League Baseball regular season is coming to a close and the Cincinnati Reds remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.

The Milwaukee Brewers appear to have the National League Central division wrapped up, but with 19 games remaining, the Reds enter Monday four games behind in the race for the third and final NL wild card spot.

The spot currently belongs to the New York Mets, who the Reds took two of three games from in a weekend series at Great American Ball Park from Sept. 5-7.

Could the Reds use that momentum and make a late charge for a postseason spot? The odds are long, but not insurmountable. Below is what you need to know as the playoff race enters the home stretch into September.

Standings

Taking last weekend’s series against the Mets was a step in the right direction for the Reds, but New York still maintained its grip on the third NL wild card position.

In addition to the Reds, the Mets are being chased by the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals for the final spot. Below is how the standings look entering games on Monday, Sept. 8.

Division leaders: Milwaukee Brewers (Central), Philadelphia Phillies (East) and Los Angeles Dodgers (West.)

Wild Card:

Chicago Cubs: 81-62

San Diego Padres: 78-65

New York Mets: 76-67

Cincinnati Reds: 72-71 (4 games back)

San Francisco Giants: 72-71 (4 games back)

Arizona Diamondbacks: 72-72 (4.5 games back)

St. Louis Cardinals: 72-72 (4.5 games back)

Playoff odds

Outlets are updating their MLB playoffs daily as the season comes to a close and some of the odds machines are kinder to the Reds than others.

Fangraphs gives the Reds just a 3.9 percent chance of making the playoffs, while giving the Mets a 93.4 percent chance of snagging a spot.

Baseball-Reference is a bit more hopeful on the Reds’ chances, giving Terry Francona’s club a 13.5 percent chance to make the playoffs.

ESPN Analytics gives the Reds an eight percent chance at making the postseason, entering play on Monday.

Remaining schedule

Of the 19 games left on Cincinnati’s schedule, 10 of them will be against teams that are currently in the NL playoff picture.

That stretch begins Monday night, with the Reds traveling to San Diego for three games against the Padres. From there, the Reds will battle the Athletics on the road for three games and then head to St. Louis for their final three games against the Cardinals this season.

The divisional games won’t stop there for the Reds, however, who will then host the Chicago Cubs for four games and the Pittsburgh Pirates for three games in their final homestand at Great American Ball Park this season.

The Reds will close out the 2025 regular season with three games against the Brewers from Sept. 26-28.