MILWAUKEE − It took 162 games and some gut-wrenching scoreboard watching, but the Cincinnati Reds are going back to the MLB playoffs.
Needing a win or a loss by the New York Mets to pick up the final National League wild card berth, the Reds benefitted from the latter to reach the postseason after losing their season finale to the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-2, at American Family Field.
Nearly 1,500 miles to the southeast, the Miami Marlins knocked off the Mets at LoanDepot Park in a 4-0 stunner. That result clinched an improbable postseason berth for Cincinnati, which trailed the Mets in the standings by as many as six games in September. Twice, the Reds fell below the .500 mark in recent weeks.
Now, the Reds are going to Hollywood for the MLB postseason. They’ll travel to face the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the best-of-three Wild Card round, which is scheduled to begin Sept. 30 at Dodger Stadium.
The Reds exited the field after losing to Milwaukee and closed off the clubhouse to watch the final outs in Miami. When the clubhouse opened to media members, beer and champagne was already being passed around.
“This, it always feels like the first time,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “Watching these guys have fun, that’s worth every agonizing minute we had all year.”
Reds vs. Dodgers: National League Wild Card series
In the season finale, the Reds opened the scoring and likely put a scare in any Mets players scoreboard watching down in Miami. Elly De Le Cruz homered 4-2 feet to center field in the second inning for 1-0, and T.J. Friedl followed up in the third inning with a solo shot of his own, that one to right field facade just above the Cincinnati bullpen.
That would be the last scoring of the day for the Reds, though. After Brewers starter Freddy Peralta went two innings, Cincinnati would face six additional Brewers pitchers. Milwaukee manager Pay Murphy stated before the game he intended to get an array of pitchers some work ahead of their first-round bye, which means their postseason opener won’t occur until Oct. 4.
Brewers closer Trevor Megill (6-3) ended up being awarded the win.
Reds starting pitcher Brady Singer (14-12), who took the loss in the game, successfully worked through traffic through two innings but it caught up with him in the third and fourth innings. Back-to-back doubles to start the bottom of the third inning saw Brice Turang halve the Brewers’ deficit at 2-1.
Then, Milwaukee took the lead in the fourth inning on Singer’s 71st and final pitch of the game, which Danny Jansen cranked to left field for a two-run homer for a 3-2 lead.
Nick Lodolo, who started the Reds’ Sept. 25 win over Pittsburgh, came on for an inning of relief but allowed a run in the fourth inning as Milwaukee went ahead, 4-2.
From there, the Reds pitching staff blanked Milwaukee but the offense couldn’t pull any closer.
Down in Miami the Marlins were leading 4-0. After their own late-season push for the third NL wild card came up short, they ensured their opponent on the weekend didn’t get it either, and eliminated the monied Mets roster from postseason contention, which will likely necessitate hard questions and personnel decisions for New York.
The Reds’ front office can probably expect a softer landing locally this offseason.
“Feels great man,” a champagne-soaked Emilio Pagán said with drops of alcohol hanging from his eye lashes. “This is what I was planning for when I signed here. So happy for our group, especially the guys that haven’t experienced this before. This is why you play, for moments like this, for opportunities like this.”
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Live updates from throughout the Sept. 28 action across MLB.
MILWAUKEE − Welcome to Cincinnati.com’s live coverage of the final day of the MLB regular season. The Cincinnati Reds (83-78) enter play Sept. 28 against the Milwaukee Brewers (96-65) at American Family Field holding a tiebreak advantage over the New York Mets in the race for the third and final National League wild card playoff berth. We’ll be providing updates of both games throughout, and they begin approximately simultaneously at 3:10 p.m. ET.
Reds lose in Milwaukee, MLB playoff hopes hanging on Marlins’ lead
The Reds have lost in Milwaukee, 4-2, after not scoring a run following T.J. Friedl’s third inning solo home run.
But Cincinnati still has hope as the Marlins are leading the Mets at LoanDepot Park in Miami.
For the moment, the Reds (83-79) will fall a half-game behind in the standings but if the Mets also lose and drop to 83-79, Cincinnati is in the MLB playoffs based on tiebreaking procedures.
The Reds have two at-bats left to pull some runs out
Cincinnati is down to its last six outs in Milwaukee and still trailing, 4-2. They begin the eighth with the top of their batting order.
Things are going better in Miami but Cincinnati doesn’t want to leave anything to chance.
Scoreboard watch: Marlins leading Mets
The Marlins took a 4-0 lead and then got a big scare when the Mets loaded the bases and saw Pete Alonso drive a ball deep to left-center, but the ball stayed in the park. The Fish are still on top.
Chase Burns on in relief for Reds against Brewers
Reds starter Nick Lodolo admirably returned on short rest to pitch for his club on the final day of the regular season. He went one inning, allowing two hits and a run. Fireballer Chase burns is now on for Cincinnati.
Brady Singer exits for Reds, Nick Lodolo on in relief
Brady Singer’s day is done for Cincinnati. He went three and 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on five hits and a walk. His final pitch ended up clearing the left field wall on a Danny Jensen homer to make the Reds behind, 3-2.
Marlins leading Mets, Brewers threatening again
The Miami Marlins took a 2-0 lead over New York in the bottom of the fourth inning. That’s the good news for Cincinnati.
In Milwaukee, Brady Singer is still on the mound and allowed another leadoff runner, this time a ground-rule double to Isaac Collins. There’s action in the Reds bullpen again.
Brewers are on the scoreboard
Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang both doubled to begin the third inning, so Milwaukee is on the scoreboard, trailing 2-1. Cincinnati’s Chase Burns is up in the Reds’ bullpen, although Singer eventually worked out of the inning with the lone run allowed.
T.J. Friedl homers to extend Reds’ early lead vs. Brewers
T.J. Friedl led off the third inning with a deep drive to right field. Make it 2-0, Reds.
Brady Singer grinding early vs. Brewers
Brady Singer’s allowed four base runners through two innings, two in each inning so far. He’s into his second turn through the Brewers’ batting order but has only allowed one run.
Elly De La Cruz opens the scoring for the Reds
That gust of wind the Mets are feeling in Miami is the shockwave from Elly De La Cruz’s solo home run to leadoff the second inning, putting the Reds up, 1-0, early against the Brewers. That was De La Cruz’s 22nd homer of the year, and the tape-measure shot was measured at 402 feet.
Reds, Brewers post scoreless first inning
The Reds left Gavin Lux stranded on first base when he singled with two outs. Brady Singer started off by hitting leadoff batter Christian Yelich and walked Brice Turang two batters later but got through the first inning.
It’s also scoreless in Miami between the Mets and Marlins midway through the second inning.
Underway at American Family Field (and in Miami)
Both games of interest in the race for the final available playoff berth in MLB are underway. In Milwaukee, the retractable roof is partly closed on a beautiful day, likely for shade from the midday sun.. It’s 71F in Milwaukee today.
The starting pitching matchup for Reds-Brewers in Milwaukee
Right-hander Brady Singer (14-11, 3.95 ERA) gets the start for the Reds against the Brewers righty ace Freddy Peralta (17-6, 2.68 ERA).
The Reds are playing for their playoff lives today. The 2025 season will largely be defined by whether or not Cincinnati gets in the postseason today, which they can clinch with a win or a Mets’ loss.
Asked if the game was “all hands on deck” from a pitching perspective, Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said pregame that most of his pitchers would be available. The Reds are viewing the game as a must-win, and they won’t be counting on help as the Mets face the Miami Marlins in Miami.
Peralta might not be in the game for long as Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said pregame he intends to get his relief pitchers some work ahead of the Brewers’ nearly weeklong break from action after they secured a first-round by and the top seed in the National League (and would have homefield advantage through the World Series as baseball’s top team).
The only incentive the Brewers have to play for today is that a win would be their 97th, which would set a new franchise record for single-season wins. And you can be sure Milwaukee doesn’t want to go into the playoffs after getting swept by Cincinnati, which they’re at risk of doing. So, it’s not as though the Brewers don’t have something to play for.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds lose in Milwaukee, but take final playoff spot with Mets loss in Miami
Reporting by Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
