CHICAGO — The Cincinnati Reds said they didn’t need help at the trade deadline. Said they love their team just the way it is. Said they didn’t want anybody to be traded out of the group and can keep winning into October without outside help.
Now they’ve got 54 games – one third of the season – to prove it.
Make it 53 games after the Chicago Cubs clobbered starter Ben Lively and the Reds 20-9 on Tuesday night a few hours after general manager Nick Krall stood pat at the trade deadline, adding one bullpen depth pitcher the day before.