The Cincinnati Reds club that entered May in first place in the National League Central had high hopes of getting a healthy Hunter Greene back in July and putting distance between themselves and the rest of the division.

Since May 1, the Reds have been one of the worst teams in baseball, and even getting Greene back feels like too little, too late. There’s still a chance that the Reds can at least make a run to one of the wild-card spots, but a lot has to go right, not just on the field, but also at the trade deadline for them to be in position to make a meaningful move.

Record: 39-43

Record this time last season: 43-40

Standing: fifth in NL Central

Playoff odds: 5.0 percent (FanGraphs), 2.7 percent (Baseball Reference) 

If the season ended today: Eliminated from playoff contention

Biggest series between now and the deadline: The Reds start a four-game series against the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Monday.

Current needs: The bullpen has been the biggest issue for the Reds, even after it was perhaps its biggest strength through April. Closer Emilio Pagán is set to return soon, and another offseason addition, Pierce Johnson, was just activated off the IL. However, Tony Santillan, who had just seemed to get straightened back out, just went on the IL.

History says: The Reds will often make moves at the deadline, but they’re hardly the type that make too big of a headline. The Reds have made those moves as sellers, but there’s nobody the team is willing to trade (Elly De La Cruz or Hunter Greene) that will lead off a national show.

What will determine what they do: President of baseball operations Nick Krall will likely take the decision down to the wire — it’s not even where they stand at the All-Star break, but as much where the team is on the last day of July ahead of the Aug. 3 deadline. If they’re within four or five games of .500, expect them to add at least a bullpen arm. If they’re seven or eight games below .500, they will likely sell off any impending free agents.

What should they do: If there’s any chance of getting into the playoffs, it makes sense to gamble and add at the deadline. Few teams this side of the Dodgers can match a 1-2 punch of Chase Burns and Hunter Greene in the playoffs. But if there’s not a chance, the Reds should buy as many lottery tickets as possible. Even during the 2022 teardown, when the Reds dealt two of the top pitchers on the market — Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle — the best player they got in return may end up being outfielder Hector Rodríguez, who was acquired in exchange for Tyler Naquin.