Playoff hopes faded for the Cincinnati Reds during their 3-22 start to the season, but this stretch of games ahead of the All-Star break should serve as a measuring stick.
Entering the weekend series against Milwaukee, the Reds are set to play 24 of 29 games against clubs with winning records. It’s a test for their younger players to prove themselves against potential playoff teams and a chance to show their winning record in May wasn’t solely a mirage.
One series down and things didn’t look good.
The Reds were swept by the Brewers in their three-game series with a 6-3 loss in Sunday’s series finale at Great American Ball Park in front of a crowd of 25,001.