After a split with the Chicago Cubs over the weekend, Cincinnati remains tied with three other teams for the final wildcard spot in the National League. With only a few series left to end the season, Cincinnati can no longer rely on remaining even in each series, as they have to find a way to make up ground.  

How is it already nearly September? Every year, I feel caught off guard around two weeks before football season. Cincinnati has their first game against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 10.

As I am writing this, the Atlanta Braves have just beaten the Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds have just taken another series from the Dodgers. Cincinnati has played quite well against the Dodgers this season, and they continue to show that this small-market team can hang with anyone.  

Cincinnati and Milwaukee both have tough schedules ahead, but if Cincinnati really wants to show that they run the Central, then they will have to find a way to relax at the plate when facing a dominating pitching staff in Milwaukee.  

This entire past weekend was a special time for Reds fans, as it was the official Reds Hall of Fame induction weekend for Bronson Arroyo, Danny Graves and Gabe Paul.  

As we all know by now, it was a very busy weekend in the Queen City as Taylor Swift took the stage at Paycor Stadium for two concerts. While I certainly like some of her music, my wife and I didn’t make the trip and stuck to our weekend at Great American Ballpark.

The Cincinnati Reds may have lost the series against a very tough Atlanta Braves team, but in terms of the entire season, they certainly won. They won over the fans, won over the media and proved to the front office that they are ready to compete for a division title.  

"Hot" might not even be the correct term at this point, as the Cincinnati Reds are scorching. As I am writing this article, they just completed their 8th straight victory which included a sweep over the 2022 World Series winning Houston Astros.  

No, the title of this edition of Matt’s Take isn’t just “click bait,” as I truly believe the Cincinnati Reds will make the playoffs this year. To start the season, the Reds were only 7-15, but since then, they have a winning record of 24-20. Since April 24, the Redlegs have the best record in the NL Central and look to officially be first in the division by the end of June.  

While it was a weekend to forget, there were still some positive takeaways. It is important to understand that the season is still young and there is still a lot of baseball yet to be played. Looking forward, the Reds will take on the Dodgers at home before heading on a road trip to take on the Cardinals, Royals and Astros.

As of May 30, the Cincinnati Reds currently sit in third place in the National League Central with a record of 24-29. They are only two games back of the Pirates for second place and four games back of the first place Brewers.  

Being born in the 1990s and always being a Reds fan, it hasn’t been common to watch Cincinnati take on the Yankees in the Queen City. While Cincinnati has always “feuded” with division teams such as the Cardinals and Cubs, I can certainly see why people don’t like the Yankees after watching the Reds get swept by them over the weekend.  

Mother’s Day is a very important day for many in the United States, as it is a day to honor, remember, and spend time with our beloved mothers. This is also a day that many will remember for quite some time, as it is the day that Matt McLain received the call to leave Louisville and head up to the Major Leagues.