At some point over the last five weeks, the Cincinnati Reds turned a hot streak into an expectation.
The offense is scoring more than five runs a game since the All-Star break. Starting pitching has stabilized. The bullpen looks a bit different after trades and relievers returning from the injured list.
The Reds completed their four-game sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday with a 3-2 victory at Great American Ball Park and they made it look easy. That’s what good teams do against teams in the cellar, but the Reds have the National League’s best record since the start of July.