If they weren't before, the Cincinnati Reds are now officially rolling. The Reds ascended to a new high-water mark in 2025 − six games over .500 − as they completed a three-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays with a 2-1 win on July 27 at Great American Ball Park. It was also four consecutive wins for Cincinnati.

Brady Singer took a shutout into the eighth inning and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 on Sunday for their fourth straight victory.

CINCINNATI — The Rays continued their majors’-worst skid with a 2-1 loss to the Reds on Sunday. The defeat was the 18th in their last 25 games, coming after a 25-9 run during which they had the best record in the league.

In honor of the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction festivities taking place in Cooperstown, New York, each team wore a retro-style hat with a Hall of Fame patch on the side. For Cincinnati and Tampa Bay, they donned their hats on July 26. The Reds' hat was blue was a wishbone "C" larger than what they typically wear.

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays will try to end a six-game road losing streak when they visit the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati has a 30-22 record at home and a 55-50 record overall. The Reds have a 26-5 record in games when they hit at least two home runs.

But as the July 31 trade deadline approaches, that seems like the much more likely outcome. In the past month, the Red Sox have gotten scorching hot and the Rays have fallen all the way down to 53-52, right on the border of "sell" territory.

Martinez went on to say the trade deadline was motivation for the 2025 Reds, who stood at 54-50 after Friday's victory and one game back of the San Diego Padres for the third National League Wild Card.

The Tampa Bay Rays are struggling, and if they sell at the deadline, the Boston Red Sox seem like an ideal fit for Yandy Diaz, ESPN's Buster Olney says.

Ryan Pepiot was dealing. The Tampa Bay pitcher has breezed through five scoreless innings, and was about to get through the sixth with a lead