How the Reds Made the 2025 MLB Postseason

It took until after the Reds finished Game 162 but Cincinnati, thanks to help from the Mets, locked up the final playoff spot in the National League. It’s the first time since 2020 that the Reds made the playoffs. Thanks to a young core that should only get better, it felt like a long time coming after falling just short in 2023.

Fresh faces made a difference

To illustrate how much MLB rosters change over time, no players on the Reds’ current active roster were on the 2020 team. Wade Miley, currently on the 60-day IL, and Tejay Antone (AAA) are the lone players on that team who are still in the organization.

Over the last five years, the Reds have gotten younger and quickly turned things around after a massive selloff in 2022. That selloff helped build the 2025 team, and I’ll get more into that in a second. But before that, let’s get into the pitching staff for a minute.

Aside from the Mets’ late-season collapse opening up a spot, the Reds’ rotation proved to be the real difference maker. And, much of that group is homegrown.

Andrew Abbott, a 2025 NL All-Star, was arguably the best starter for the team this season. Abbott posted a stellar 2.66 ERA and can beat hitters in several ways, either through making hitters chase (30.2%) or landing a funky low-80s curveball for strikes.

Abbott was part of a deep rotation that included Nick Lodolo, who stayed healthy for most of 2025, and staff ace Hunter Greene. Greene, who struck out 132 over 107.2 IP, was dominant yet against thanks to his plus-plus fastball, which helps set up his slider and splitter.

Brady Singer, who led the team in innings pitched (169.2), was exactly the mid-rotation innings eater the Reds needed when he was acquired last winter for Jonathan India.

No, this is not the same kind of rotation that the Reds rolled into Atlanta five years ago. That group included a former Cy Young winner and two grizzled veterans. This is a young pitching staff. But, it’s a very special group nonetheless.

An effective bullpen

This year, the Reds’ bullpen finished 14th in ERA (3.89 ERA) and 19th in HR/9 (1.15). Those numbers were slightly better than 2024 (4.09 ERA, 1.19 HR/9).

The Reds’ bullpen in 2024 had its ups and downs. Alexis Diaz was inconsistent as the team’s closer, and by the end of May 2025, the former All-Star wasn’t even in the organization anymore.

Last year’s bullpen, aside from Diaz, also included Buck Farmer and Fernando Cruz, two other pitchers not in the organization. Cruz was a dominant strikeout pitcher who was flipped to the Yankees last winter to get catcher Jose Trevino. Farmer, meanwhile, spent the year bouncing between the Reds, Braves, and Angels’ organizations.

The 2025 Reds bullpen looked different. Cincinnati moved former starters Graham Ashcraft and Connor Phillips to relief roles, and both thrived. Tony Santillan struck out 75 over 73 frames and was a very effective late-inning reliever. And that bullpen also had Scott Barlow and Brent Suter, both of whom are very funky, deceptive pitchers.

Emilio Pagan, in his second season with the Reds, emerged as the closer. He excelled in that role, as he notched 34 saves and struck 81 over 68.2 IP, limiting the outcomes usually in control of pitchers (walks & home runs) to manageable numbers.

It’s not a bullpen that pops on paper. But with depth, it was enough to get the Reds to the finish line.

The offense

The aforementioned selloff back in 2022 helped the Reds amass their current group.

Spencer Steer, acquired from the Twins for Tyler Mahle, hit 21 home runs, his third-straight season of 20+ home runs. Noelvi Marte, acquired in the Luis Castillo trade, hit 14 home runs in 90 games and proved to be a difference maker, both at the plate and in the field.

It was a remarkable turn of events for Marte, who struggled badly both in the Majors and Dominican Winter League last year. And after hitting .150 in Spring Training, it wasn’t clear exactly what role he could play after being optioned in March. It’s amazing how things can change over a couple of months.

There were also the outcasts who came from other organizations. Austin Hays, who signed with the Reds after a weird 2024, hit 15 home runs and got back on track after his power was somewhat stifled in Baltimore. Miguel Anjudar, acquired midseason, hit .359 over 34 games for the Reds.

All of those hitters helped piece together wins for the Reds, and all of those players were needed. Especially, since Elly De La Cruz slipped in the lineup in September as his ground-ball and topped-off contact rates increased.

What to expect in October

The Reds have a tough task ahead of them in the Wild Card round.

Cincinnati will face the reigning World Series champion Dodgers, a team loaded with talent across their lineup and rotation. But, the Reds didn’t have to use Hunter Greene before the end of the regular season, lining him up for Game 1.

Win the first game with Greene, and the Reds could pull off a massive upset.