SF Giants, Reds set for crucial series with postseason implications

Aug 28, 2023, 8:30 AM

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 18: Casey Schmitt #6 of the San Francisco Giants chases after Elly De La Cr...

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

While the calendar might still read August, there will be an October feel to this week’s series between the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds.

San Francisco (67-63) enters play on Monday tied with the Reds (68-64) in the National League Wild Card standings as both teams sit 1.5 games behind the third-place Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Giants have been on a slide in August, holding a 9-14 record this month and losing seven of 10 and 14 of their past 20 games dating back to August 5th.

All 8⃣ runs from tonight's #SFGiants win: pic.twitter.com/saQpeYkhrS

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) August 28, 2023

After being held to four runs over the first two games of their series against the MLB-best Atlanta Braves, San Francisco’s bats woke up during Sunday’s 8-5 win at Oracle Park.

Now that the Giants have put a brutal stretch that included six out of nine games against Atlanta, upcoming matchups against NL Wild Card hopefuls in Cincinnati and the Chicago Cubs have San Francisco primed for another significant stretch of action.

While the Giants look to gain the upper hand on the Reds in the standings, the D-Backs–who are currently the third Wild Card holder–will begin a three-game series against the red-hot Los Angeles Dodgers before facing the American League-leading Baltimore Orioles.

With Arizona’s upcoming schedule looking rough, this is an ideal time for San Francisco to string together some wins and make its move for the postseason.

The Giants control their destiny, and head-to-head matchups against teams in the race could determine who will be playing baseball this October versus watching from home.