Reds Look To Take NL Central In The 2nd Half

The first half of the season for the Cincinnati Reds has been an up and down one. On one hand the Reds are having a great

July 20, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman (54) walks off the field with manager Dusty Baker (12) after the Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

season, currently 13 games above .500 and sitting 4th in the NL standings. On the other hand 4th in the NL is 3rd in the NL Central and the club should be more than 13 games over .500.

Good news for the Reds and their fans is the fact that the Reds always play fairly well in the second half. The other good news comes from Pittsburgh, the Pirates collapse in the second half of the season, I mean collapse they went 19-43 in the second half of 2011.

With the Pirates collapsing as we speak, having last their last 3 in a row and last 2 to the Reds its only a matter of games until Cincinnati over takes Pittsburgh for 2nd in the NL Central.

St. Louis is going to be more difficult to overt take. Unlike last year they have a lead going into the second half, currently it stands at 4.5 games. Cincinnati needs quality divisional wins, a sweep of the Cardinals and the Cardinals to start losing.

A few of those will be possible. The Cardinals losing part is what may not happen. St. Louis has used around 8 starting pitchers this season, thats insanity. What is more insane is the fact all the guys they have called up have been great.

At the moment Cincinnati has a chance to pounce, the offense has played well in the first two games back, the starting pitching has been good and the relief has been solid.

Currently the Reds are in the 2nd wild card spot in the NL, they would play Pittsburgh on the road at the moment in a one game playoff. The season isn’t ending today and likely one of those teams will not play in the wild card.

Cincinnati goes for the three game sweep against Pittsburg on Sunday at GABP, tune in.