Hunter Greene’s one-hit gem to open the homestand against the Chicago Cubs helped put the Cincinnati Reds in one very important position in the playoff race with nine games left in the season.
Not only did the Reds keep pace with the New York Mets (who beat San Diego) for the final National League wild-card spot, but they also moved a game ahead of the Giants and into a tie with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the chase for the final berth.
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They still have to make up two games on the Mets in these final nine. But as long as they hold serve over the two others, they’re in, regardless of ties.
Matt McLain slides back into first base during the eighth inning of the Reds’ 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park on Sept. 18. The victory kept the Reds within two games of the last wild card playoff spot entering games of Sept. 19.
Because the Reds own the tiebreaker edge over both the Mets and the Diamondbacks by virtue of head-to-head records of 4-2 against each.
Any two-team or even three-team ties involving those teams goes to the Reds.
Here’s the remaining schedules for the four teams in play for the NL’s final playoff spot entering Sept. 19:
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How Cincinnati Reds make MLB playoffs: Just tie, baby!