The National League’s postseason picture had seemed nearly locked down with just over a month to go, until the New York Mets started to slide. Since the All‑Star break, the Mets have gone 21‑28, including 4‑9 in their last 13 games. That downturn has opened a window for teams behind them—most notably the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants—to make serious pushes for a Wild Card berth.
Cincinnati currently trails New York by two games for the final NL Wild Card spot, but they hold the tiebreaker over the Mets—meaning in the event of a tie, the Reds would edge them out. The Reds have also been on an upswing lately, winning four of their last five games after a cold stretch at the end of August.
Chase Burns, Graham Ashcraft activated
To bolster their chances, the Reds announced the activation of two right‑handed pitchers, Chase Burns and Graham Ashcraft, from the 15‑day injured list in time for their Friday opener against the Oakland Athletics. To make room on the active roster, Lyon Richardson and Yosver Zulueta were optioned to Triple‑A Louisville.
Burns, the No. 2 overall pick in last summer’s draft, was sidelined with a flexor strain in his throwing elbow. Prior to the injury, he made eight starts, compiling a 5.24 ERA—though one particularly bad outing (5 earned runs in 1/3 of an inning vs. the Red Sox) had a large negative impact on that number. Ashcraft, meanwhile, has been effective in a bullpen role this season after failing to cement a spot in the rotation in previous years. Before being placed on the IL with a forearm strain, he posted a 3.72 ERA in about 58 innings, with a solid strikeout total.
These moves come at a critical juncture. The Reds have just two remaining series out of five that are against teams currently in playoff position, both of them being division rivals: the Chicago Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers in particular are dominant this season, boasting the best record in MLB, though there is speculation they may rest starters late in the season.
From a roster usage perspective, Ashcraft has the clearer path to immediate impact—slotting into late‑inning relief (seventh/eighth inning roles) seems likely. Burns, though more of a starter by background, may be used out of the bullpen initially to ramp back up, especially given concerns about how a pitcher’s “stuff” returns after injury.
In short: with New York faltering and the Reds gaining momentum, adding two power arms provides both depth and intrigue to their Wild Card hopes. But there are risks—rusty command, limited rest, and managing workloads will all matter. If Burns and Ashcraft can perform well down the stretch, they might just tip the balance in Cincinnati’s favor.
