The Cincinnati Reds came out of the All-Star break, won two games and were just 1 1/2 games behind the final wild-card position

Here are all the reasons why - on paper - the Cincinnati Reds should waltz right past the Washington Nationals in this week’s series in the nation’s capital: The Nationals are in dead last in the NL East at just 39-60 overall

BOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals begin a three-game series at home against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday. Washington has a 19-30 record in home games and a 39-60 record overall. The Nationals have gone 31-20 in games when they record eight or more hits.

Former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Stuart Fairchild was desingated for assignment by the Atlanta Braves on Monday. Fairchild wastraded to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations at the end of March.

The Cincinnati Reds held a brief optional workout Thursday night, a quick meeting to honor their manager Friday, then beat the New York Mets.

NEW YORK — As far as first tests go, Noelvi Marte’s debut in the outfield for the Cincinnati Reds was pretty easy. Through six innings in right field Sunday at Citi Field, Marte had exactly one ball hit to him, a third-inning grounder from New York Mets leadoff man Brandon Nimmo that got by second baseman Matt McLain.

The Cincinnati Reds have reportedly been eyeing a trade for Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. for months. Could they finally pull the trigger?

Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte had never played the outfield in a game at any level professionally. But Marte has long liked to shag fly balls during batting practice, and coach Collin Cowgill saw enough natural talent to tell manager Terry Francona.

This season, at 50-47 coming out of the All-Star Break, the Reds won their first two games at the New York Mets this weekend to win the series. Given that the Mets were 33-14 at h