Reds look to raise playoff stakes in key matchup ahead of Deadline

CINCINNATI -- Trade Deadline winds are blowing stronger with moves starting to happen around Major League Baseball the past couple of days. For the Reds, the time is ripe for catching a breeze to both stay in the postseason hunt and position themselves for dealing before Thursday.

Friday night's homestand-opening 7-2 victory over the Rays at Great American Ball Park was the latest in terms of a much-needed win following a 3-3 road trip to New York and Washington. With back-to-back victories, Cincinnati (54-50) is one game out in the National League Wild Card race.

“We’re obviously well aware of the Deadline looming," said Reds starting pitcher Nick Martinez, who gave up two runs on four hits and two walks to go with five strikeouts over five innings. “The boys want to play. Boys want to win and we want to make a push. We’re certainly playing like it. A good win off a good team.”

Cincinnati is looking for bullpen help to bolster the club in the later innings and a proven power bat for the middle of the order.

If there is a hitter or reliever out there for the Reds, manager Terry Francona won't publicly lobby for them.

“I like our guys. I think I’ve been pretty open about that," Francona said. "You’ll never hear me say, ‘We need this,’ or ‘We need that,’ because, I think that it’s directly saying that somebody out there [in the clubhouse] isn’t good enough. I’ll never do that. I know our guys [in the front office] are up there grinding and seeing if things make sense. But my responsibility is to these guys in this room and I’ll keep it that way.”

Trades began percolating on Thursday, but the Yankees' acquisition of third baseman Ryan McMahon in a deal with the Rockies on Friday could have a trickle-down effect to the Reds. New York was pursuing former Cincinnati third baseman Eugenio Suárez from the Diamondbacks before pivoting to McMahon.

The Reds also have interest in Suárez -- who is currently tied for fourth in MLB with 36 homers -- but were also viewed as longshots to land him.

“What I care about is us winning," Francona said. "Those guys upstairs, I know they’re making phone calls like every team does. But for probably every 100 to 200 things you hear about, one happens. I think you’re better off just trying to win.”

The Reds did a good job of that on Friday with extended rallies, while going 5-for-17 with runners in scoring position. Although they stranded 12 runners, they cashed in when it was needed.

Tampa Bay held a 2-1 lead until the Reds got a little crafty and a little lucky to make things happen in the bottom of the fourth inning. With Austin Hays running from first base on Gavin Lux’s grounder to first base, the fielder's choice throw from Jonathan Aranda hit Hays in the back to leave everybody safe. A surprise bunt single back to pitcher Zack Littell loaded the bases.

On a one-out grounder, Will Benson hustled and beat the throw to first base on a would-be inning-ending double play that allowed Hays to score the tying run. Noelvi Marte's single through the left side scored Lux for the go-ahead run.

“I made sure I said something to [Benson]," Francona said. "If he doesn’t beat that out, the inning is over and we have nothing to show for it.”

Add-on runs came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Marte hit a two-out double to right-center field and was followed by TJ Friedl, who slugged a two-run home run into the right-field bullpen for a three-run lead. Tyler Stephenson, who hit a solo homer in the second inning, provided insurance with a two-run single to left field in the seventh.

"We talk about it in hitters meetings, those opportunities -- just the small [things to] get them over and taking advantage of times guys are in scoring position," Stephenson said. "That’s kind of where you can make or break in these games. The more situations you have, the more you can capitalize on those -- chances are you’re probably going to win.”

The Reds, who are in third place and 7 1/2 games back in the NL Central, are seeking their first playoff berth since the Covid-abbreviated 2020 season and their first full-season postseason entry since 2013.

More reasons to win and try to add ahead of Thursday’s Deadline at 6 p.m. ET.

“It’s motivation. No one in there wants to sell. We want to win," Martinez said. "We believe in ourselves. I think everybody has bought into Tito’s persona and winning. We go out there and try to win every game in front of us. We’re starting to see that."