Although the playoffs are such a crapshoot, one thing is undeniable: run prevention is huge in making a run. Pitching and defense correlate to championships a lot higher than offense, although the Reds' offense, statistically, is in pretty good shape too.
This week served as a pretty good indication what the Reds could do against a quality opponent in a playoff series.
Combined, the Reds gave up just 16 runs in 71 innings against the Cardinals and Dodgers. That's almost exactly 2.0 runs per game extrapolated to nine innings. And what's more is they beat Adam Wainwright, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw in the same week.
And let's not forget Chapman who, a case could be made, just had the most dominant week a reliever could have in baseball:
5 IP
17 BF
11 K
1 H
1 BB
71 pitches
53 strikes (29 swing and miss)
60 fastballs (average 100.8 MPH)
With Latos and Bailey pitching as well as they are lately, Marshall and Cueto appearing to be close to returning for added help, and Chapman channeling his inner video game, cheat code fastball, the Reds' prospects look as good as any to make an October run.