The Reds can also get to the playoffs by winning one of the two wild cards. They trail the San Francisco Giants (23-24), who had their game Tuesday postponed by the wildfires in California, by one half game.
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According to FanGraphs.com, the Reds have a 43.5 percent chance of earning a playoff berth: 16.5 percent by finishing second in the division and 28.6 percent by winning a wild card. They still have a 0.2 percent chance of winning the division.
The Reds have 10 games remaining in the 60-game season. The Cardinals have 15 games scheduled in the next 12 days. They had a number of games postponed by positive COVID-19 tests earlier this season, and two games against the Detroit Tigers have not been rescheduled.
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The Cardinals have an easier schedule down the stretch. They play two last-place teams — the Pittsburgh Pirates (14-33) and Kansas City Royals (20-29) — a total of eight times. Their other seven games are against the Milwaukee Brewers (22-25).
The Reds and Pirates finish their four-game series at 6:40 p.m. Wednesday at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds then play three games at home, starting Friday, against the Chicago White Sox (32-16), who have the second-best record in baseball behind the Los Angeles Dodgers (34-15). The Reds also close the season with a three-game series on the road against the Minnesota Twins (30-20), one of six teams in baseball with 30 or more victories.
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