Reds’ Nick Martinez talks perfect relief outing, huge win over Cubs
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Martinez retired all seven batters he faced to help the Reds beat the Cubs 1-0 and catch the Mets in the NL playoff race.
After beating the Milwaukee Brewers in two straight games, the Cincinnati Reds have a new magic number.
After the New York Mets lost while the Reds won on Sept. 26, Cincinnati held the last wild card spot in the National League. The two teams held an identical record, with the Reds owning the head-to-head tiebreaker, having gone 4-2 in games against the Mets this season.
That remains the case heading into Game 162, as the Mets defeated the Marlins 6-0 and the Reds topped the Brewers 7-2 on Sept. 27.
The Reds season finale is against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sept. 28.
Keep reading to learn about the Reds’ magic number to make the 2025 MLB playoffs and more.
What is a magic number in Major League Baseball?
In MLB, the phrase “magic number” is the formula used to determine how close a team is to clinching a playoff spot or a division title. The number represents the combination of team wins and losses by that team’s closest competitor needed to clinch.
With one game left on their schedule, the Reds still have a magic number in play for clinching the playoffs.
Formula to determine magic number: (Total games played in a season) +1 – (Total wins for Team A – total losses for Team B).
What is the magic number for the Cincinnati Reds to make the 2025 MLB postseason?
The Reds’ magic number to clinch the MLB postseason is 1. The 1 refers to the total of Reds wins and/or Mets losses that would solidify Cincinnati a wild cart spot.
In other words, if the Reds win their final game on Sept. 28, they are automatically in the playoffs regardless of the outcome of the Mets’ final game against the Marlins. If the Reds lose, but the Mets also lose, the Reds still make the playoffs because of their possession of the head-to-head tiebreaker. If the Reds lose and the Mets win, New York passes Cincinnati in the standings and secure the final playoff spot in the National league.
When do the Reds play their regular-season finale?
Cincinnati takes on the Brewers at 3:10 p.m. on Sept. 28 with Cincinnati’s Brady Singer (14-11, 3.95 ERA) set to take the mound opposite Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta (17-6, 2.68 ERA)
First pitch for the Mets and Marlins is at the same time. New York will have Sean Manaea (2-4, 5.80 ERA) on the bump while Miami counters with Edward Cabrera (7-7, 3.66 ERA)
What channel is the Cincinnati Reds game on today?
TV Channel: FanDuel Sports Network
Streaming: FanDuel Sports Network App, MLB.TV (out-of-market)
Fans can watch the next Reds game on FanDuel Sports Network at 6:40 p.m., or on the FanDuel Sports Network app and website. Out-of-marketviewers can watch the Reds play on MLB.TV with a subscription. FanDuel Sports Network is available with select TV providers, and can also be purchased directly $19.99 a month or $189.99 a year.
Is the Reds game on the radio?
Yes, the game airs locally on 1460 AM.