MILWAUKEE (ENQUIRER) – The Cincinnati Reds are back in control of their playoff fate with two games remaining in the 2025 MLB regular season, as reported by our partners at the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The Reds got the help they needed elsewhere in the form of a New York Mets loss to the Miami Marlins, and helped themselves with a 3-1 victory in their Sept. 26 series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at a sold-out American Family Field.
The Mets’ 6-2 loss in Miami, coupled with the Reds’ win, pulled the teams into a tie for the third and final National League wild card berth on identical 82-78 records. Cincinnati holds every two-way and three-way tiebreaker. By virtue of winning the season series against New York, 4-2, Cincinnati would earn the final wild card berth if the teams finish with identical records.
The third team in this equation is the Arizona Diamondbacks, who the Reds led by one game when play started and were still in action when Cincinnati and Milwaukee went final.
On Sept. 27, the Reds will send All-Star Andrew Abbott (9-7, 2.80 ERA) to the mound for a 7:15 p.m. (ET) game in the hope of taking another step toward the postseason. Abbott is scheduled to be opposed by Robert Gasser, who will be making just second start of 2025.
In Miami on Sept. 27, the Mets and Marlins are scheduled for a 4:10 p.m. (ET) contest. The day could end with the Reds confirmed for the MLB postseason if they win and New York loses again (and the Diamondbacks would also be eliminated).
Runs weren’t plentiful for the Reds against the Brewers’ starting pitcher Quinn Priester in the series opener. Cincinnati still managed to rough up Priester for nine hits and three runs after Milwaukee took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning.
Cincinnati came right back and tied the game in the top of the fourth on a Spencer Steer single that scored Gavin Lux.
In the sixth inning, Miguel Andujar singled home Lux, who led the inning off with a double and took third on an error. Andujar later scored on a Tyler Stephenson sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead.
All the while, Cincinnati’s pitching staff silenced the Brewers’ bats. Reds starter Zack Littell (no decision) went four and 2/3 innings, allowing a lone run and three hits. He was relieved by Connor Phillips (one and 1/3 innings) after an Elly De La Cruz error that would have ended the Milwaukee at-bar. Phillips got the Reds through the error anyway, and was followed in relief by Graham Ashcraft (one inning, no hits), Tony Santillan (one inning, one walk) and Emilio Pagán (one inning), who earned his 31st save in 37 opportunities.
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