The Key for the week of July 28th
Stewart puts his John Handcock on the dotted line
Tweak the contract language a bit, and the Bengals have their top draft pick on the field. Shemar Stewart signed his four-year, nearly $19 million deal over the weekend after a long holdout as he traded some contract language for a half million dollars more. The holdup was over a clause that let the Bengals void future guarantees if he were to be suspended by the league or arrested. The language now stays, and Stewart is a half million dollars richer. He’s the last first round pick to sign, but an important one, since the defensive end is now in camp and Trey Hendrickson, also a holdout, is not. With the first preseason game less than two weeks away, it’s close to crunch time to get the rookie up to speed and Hendrickson back with the team.
Buyers, not sellers?
The Reds start trade deadline week a season-high six games over .500 and chasing the final NL Wild Card spot. With Hunter Greene’s return date not set in stone, starters Lodolo, Martinez and Abbott, along with Sunday starter Brady Singer, have stepped up without having the Reds’ ace in the rotation. And remember this coming weekend, after the trade deadline, the Reds and Braves finish their series at Bristol Motor Speedway for the Speedway Classic.
FC for the tie
No Messi, no problem, right? Except the Orange and Blue couldn’t capitalize on a Messi-less Miami team this weekend and left South Florida with a tie instead of a 3-point win. Messi was suspended for a match for not participating in the All-Star game last weekend, but FC Cincinnati couldn’t take advantage and now falls behind Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference standings. Up next is a Thursday Leagues Cup match with Monterrey at home.
Ben’s Best Bet
So how good are the Reds odds to make the playoffs? BetMGM has the Reds the third favorite behind the Cubs and Brewers to win the NL Central, and next to last (in front of St. Louis) to win the National League and go to the World Series. With a second half surge putting the team in its best position of the season, Ben says take a flyer on the Reds to squeak into the Wild Card field. And once you get into the post season, who knows what could happen???