The Reds can eliminate the Mets this afternoon

There's a lot less drama in the National League than in the American League as the final day of the 2025 MLB regular season approaches.

We already know that the Milwaukee Brewers will finish first ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies. Both teams will earn a bye into the first round of the playoffs. We also know that the Chicago Cubs will host the San Diego Padres in a best-of-three series.

It remains to be seen who will visit the Los Angeles Dodgers, champions of the National League's Western Section, for the other Wild Card Series.

Just before games number 162, the Cincinnati Reds control their own destiny. A win over their division rivals, the Brewers, and Cincinnati would get its pass to the fall dance for the first time since 2013 if you exclude the shortened 2020 season. It's that simple in their case.

If the Reds lose to Milwaukee, they could still make the playoffs if the New York Mets escape their duel with the Miami Marlins. So, if the Reds lose to the Brewers and the Mets beat Miami, Cincinnati will be swapping baseball bats for golf clubs.

No matter who walks through that back door, the last team drafted into the National League will have a grand total of 83 or 84 wins by 2025. Not much to write home about, but anything's possible if you manage to sneak into October baseball.

Nothing's decided yet, but missing the playoffs would be a disaster for the $341 million payroll of Steve Cohen and his Mets. An eventful winter would then be in store in Queens.

This content was created with the help of AI.