MLB Outlook: 5 Reasons the Cincinnati Reds Could Still Make the Playoffs

This year's Cincinnati Reds haven't quite played with the same magic as they did last year, but the MLB regular season is a long and unpredictable thing. Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto and his teammates are sitting in fourth place in the NL Central, but it isn't over 'til it's over. 

Here's five reasons faithful Cincinnati fans shouldn't lose hope in their Redlegs.

The Bats Are Coming to Life

It has been a long and painful summer for the Reds so far, but it looks like the heart of their lineup is finally getting back to where it should be.

Cincinnati just exploded offensively en route to sweeping the World Champion San Francisco Giants over the weekend. If they can get similar production in the weeks to come, a playoff berth isn't out of the question.  

Youth, Youth, Youth

No other sport requires its athletes to compete in 162 games each season, so its only natural that teams start to wear down as they get deep into regular season play. The Reds, however, are one of the youngest teams in all of baseball, and that may prove to be an advantage as the season goes on.

You won't see guys like Ramon Hernandez or Edgar Renteria playing full speed every day, but young guns like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Chris Heisey and Drew Stubbs may have a little bit more left in the tank late in the season. 

The Emergence of an Ace

Cincinnati was rumored to be interested in both James Shields and Ubaldo Jimenez, but didn't pull trigger on either one. Maybe that's because they knew they already had an ace in the rotation. 

Right-hander Johnny Cueto has been untouchable as of late and is on his way to becoming one of the most dominant starters in the National League. After pitching a complete game shutout against the Giants, his 1.72 ERA is now the lowest in the majors.

If one or two more starters can even get close to matching Cueto's production, Cincinnati's pitching staff will be in good shape to make a run at the postseason.

The Secret Weapon

After a dismal start to the season that got him sent down to Louisville for a minor league assignment, Aroldis Chapman is finally earning his monstrous paycheck.

He has been absolutely unhittable in his last few appearances and is making opposing batters look like T-Ballers. Chapman is quickly becoming Cincinnati's go-to guy out of the bullpen. That's a great sign for the Reds as they look to make a late season push.

A Favorable Schedule

Cincinnati's remaining schedule is anything but grueling. They should be able to gain some ground in the division as they face the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs over their next six games.

If they can take advantage of their light load, anything could happen.