CHICAGO – With three teams separated by two games for the final National League wild-card spot, a couple of road trips for the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres could become the differentiator between the teams.
The Reds began a nine-game, 11-day road trip to play the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. The Padres will play two home games against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday and Wednesday, before beginning a 10-game, 10-day road trip through the Dodgers, San Francisco and St. Louis.
After the Reds lost 4-3 to the Cubs on Monday, their seventh loss in their last nine games, FanGraphs projected the Padres have the upper hand in the wild-card race. The Padres have a 43% chance to win the wild card, the Reds are at 37% and the Philadelphia Phillies sit at 9%. The Phillies are only 1½ games back in their division, so they have multiple avenues to a playoff berth.
