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2 hours ago
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Austin Hays is doing his part.
The Cincinnati Reds find themselves in a heated race for the final NL Wild Card spot. And the veteran outfielder is performing excellently night in and night out to try and give Cincy a shot.
First, the standings. Entering Tuesday night, the Reds are 75-75 and 2.0 games behind the Mets. They're tied with the San Francisco Giants. The Arizona Diamondbacks (76-75) have also entered the mix.
Now, Hays.
In his last 15 games, Hays is batting .291 with a .545 slugging percentage fueled by four home runs.
For the season, Hays is at .266 with 15 doubles, a career-high five triples, and 15 homers. He has drive in 64 runs and stolen all seven bases he has attempted to swipe.
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Hays is tracking for what would be the best OPS he has ever had in a full season, at .777 right now.
It's quite the late-career bloom for a guy who was once a well-regarded Orioles prospect that became a good but not great MLB player in Baltimore.
Hays turned 30 in July, and this is his first year with Cincinnati. It has felt like a great fit.
The Reds have needed the production lately, with Elly De La Cruz in the midst of a crazy slump.
But guys like Hays, and on Monday night catcher Tyler Stephenson, have found ways to deliver.
To make this final 12-game push into the playoffs will require will take contributions from up and down the roster. Hays, for his part, seems ready.
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