Even though the Tampa Bay Rays are still playing .671 baseball, it seems like their 13-game winning streak to open the 2023 season was years ago. Unless something bizarre happens, they’ll be the first team to reach 60 wins and then 70 wins. That’s not the current story however.

Even the worst teams have been known to reel off midseason winning streaks. Just an hour ago, or so it feels, the lowly A’s won 7 in a row (they are currently on a 6-game losing stretch). Currently, the exciting and unexpected comes via the Redlegs, Red Sox, Giants, and Braves. Atlanta’s current 7-game bender comes as no real surprise as they were expected to contend this season. Boston’s current success comes as a surprise because of the tight competition in the AL East but this 6-game run hasn’t been enough to propel them from last place despite a winning record. Just when everyone and their brother thought the NL West would be won by either the Padres (big disappointment) or the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks have spoiled everything and lead the division and have garnered the support of real baseball fans. That the Giants have vaulted over their two more hyped rivals has been a welcome surprise. Their current 9-game streak includes back to back, three-game sweeps of the Cardinals and Dodgers at Busch and Chavez Ravine respectively.

The biggest surprise of all comes from the first place (Did I just type that?) Cincinnati Reds. While the crown may be temporary, the Reds are the hottest of hot teams right now. They have won ten games in a row and don’t appear to be slowing down. It they suddenly lose three games, it’s not because I jinxed them. I’d argue that fans outside of Cincy couldn’t name the Reds rotation, but that doesn’t matter. As is often the case in similar situations, they’re getting contributions from everyone and anyone.

Far smarter people will be able to tell you which of these teams are contenders or pretenders. I think Reds fans will take any winning streak they can at this point in the rebuild.