The playoff-hungry Cincinnati Reds are playing their best baseball at the right time, and they hope that continues Tuesday night against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates as the two teams open a three-game set.

It marks the final three home games for the Reds (80-76), who have won five straight and have caught the New York Mets for the third and final wild-card spot in the National League.

If the Reds and Mets finish at the same record, the Reds hold the tiebreaker and would clinch their first playoff berth since 2020 and their first in a full season since 2013.

On Sunday, the Reds completed a four-game series sweep of the visiting Chicago Cubs with a 1-0 victory. Nick Martinez came out of the bullpen and tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings to rescue starter Andrew Abbott and register the win.

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