Looking at the remaining schedules...

[mbgrayson]

As of today, August 23rd, the Reds are 72-52, which is 124 games into the season. Of the remaining 38 games, here is what the Reds have left to play:

19 home games
19 road games

Games against teams that are above .500: 13 games (SF-3, StL-3, Col-4, SD-3)
Games against teams that are below .500: 25 games (ChC-3, Mil-9, Pit-3, Ari-4, Hou-6)


The Cardinals have three more games left (41) than the Reds, counting the make-up game against Florida. That will mean three less off days than the Reds in the next six weeks. The Cardinals have the following left to play:

17 home games
24 road games

Games against teams that are above .500: 16 games (Cin-3, Atl-4, SD-4, Col-4, Fla-1)
Games against teams that are below .500: 25 games (Pit-9, Wsh-4, Hou-3, Mil-3, ChC-6)


So it appears to me that the Reds have several small advantages for the
remainder of the year:
1. They have three fewer games left to play.
2. They have more days off.
3. They have a higher percentage of home games
4. They play fewer games against teams with winning records.
5. They have a 3.5 game lead in the standings.

With this said, the Cardinals do get to play 9 games against the Pirates, and our most frequent competitor will be the Brewers (9 games). Now if the Reds keep playing like they have for the month of August, they will be in great shape.

[hebroncougar]

I hope the Reds can beat the heck out of Milwaukee

[UKFlounder]

Good analysis. I had heard somebody say the Cardinals had an easier schedule, and perhaps those games with the Pirates may make it true, but the numbers you showed make it look pretty comparable, though I really like that the Reds have more home games left. It seemed like they plated at home a lot earlier in the year, but I guess the Cardinals did too.

Good stuff

[Degenerate39]

I hope the Pirates get super hot in their remaining games except when they play the Reds of course

[Roy Tucker]

Play every team like they're the '27 Yankees. Take nothing for granted. Nobody is going to roll over for you.

The Cubs, Brewers, Astros, etc would love to play spoilers. The Reds have had a lot of experience in that role in the recent past. Nice to be on the other side of the tracks.

[durl]

I like that the Cards have more road games than home ones down the stretch. Their road record (26-31) is pretty mediocre.

[Caveat Emperor]

The one thing the Cards have going for them is 9 games against the Pirates. They should easily go 8-1 or 7-2 in those games. The Brewers are a much tougher draw for the Reds -- as they can at least score runs, which gives them a puncher's chance in any game they play.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Play every team like they're the '27 Yankees. Take nothing for granted. Nobody is going to roll over for you.

The Cubs, Brewers, Astros, etc would love to play spoilers. The Reds have had a lot of experience in that role in the recent past. Nice to be on the other side of the tracks.

Spot on. No need to look forward. Look to tonight.

[traderumor]

Strength of schedule is not valid for MLB. Timing is everything. Pitching matchups, injuries, slumps, hot streaks, team matchups, etc., make predictions or expectations very difficult.

Look at this weekend--we got the advantage of playing a severly neutered Dodger team. Furcal, Martin out with injuries, Manny just getting back from rehab, Loney and Ethier slumping, Padilla getting scratched and drawing a bullpen fill-in. Heck, I had us losing the Dodgers series just looking at the pitching matchups, but Bronson outpitched Kershaw.

We also seem to be catching the Giants at a good time, but then they've had some rough times on the road and may enjoy some home cooking and get hot on us.

You just have to take MLB a day at a time. As we just witnessed, fortunes change incredibly fast in this game. We were manhandled for three games and subsequently have won 8 of 9 while the Cards finally won a series after a 5 game skid.

[membengal]

Balancing out the games StL has against the Pirates are the eight they have left against the Braves and Padres. Atlanta and SD will certainly be fully engaged for those at any rate.

[Homer Bailey]

Big key for me is the 24 road games remaining for the Cards. They are 26-31 on the road this year.

[I(heart)Freel]

Off days off days off days.

Reds have 'em. Cards don't. Plus that little matter of the Cards-Marlins make up game.

This is a HUGE advantage for the Reds since Tony can't restack his roto every few days. We know how mortal his 4-5 starters are.

PS If Gomes keeps getting starts in left, the Reds' 19 home games help too. That guy's home/road splits are gargantuan.

[Mario-Rijo]

Off days off days off days.

Reds have 'em. Cards don't. Plus that little matter of the Cards-Marlins make up game.

This is a HUGE advantage for the Reds since Tony can't restack his roto every few days. We know how mortal his 4-5 starters are.

PS If Gomes keeps getting starts in left, the Reds' 19 home games help too. That guy's home/road splits are gargantuan.

This is an exceptional point.

BTW I don't expect to see Gomes in the lineup tonight vs. Matt Cain, Laynce Nix seems to have a pretty good read on Cain hitting over .500 against him the past few seasons. Hopefully the good Volquez shows up tonight we will need him so as not to end up with the bullpen disadvantage in the series.

[MattyHo4Life]

This is a HUGE advantage for the Reds since Tony can't restack his roto every few days. We know how mortal his 4-5 starters are.

Well, the 4th starter is a little better now that Westbrook is a Cardinal. Westbrook hasn't allowed more than 3 runs in a start since the trade. Lohse is still a big question though.

[OnBaseMachine]

The fact that the Cardinals have nine games remaining against the Pirates worries me. As Caveat said, that could easily be anywhere from seven to nine wins for the Cardinals. My hope is the Pirates can get hot and find a way to win at least three of those final nine games against the Cardinals. Anything more than that would probably be too much to ask for.