Preview: Cincinnati Reds vs. Washington Nationals
This Friday evening, the Cincinnati Reds will square off against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park at 6:45 PM ET. Both teams are looking to improve their standing as the season progresses, with the Reds favored to win this matchup.
Team Standings and Records
The Cincinnati Reds enter the game with a season record of 47-50 and currently sit in 4th place in the NL Central, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by eight games. Meanwhile, the Washington Nationals have not fared much better with a 44-53 record, placing them in 4th place in the NL East and 18.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.
Pitcher Showdown
Starting on the mound for the Reds will be Frankie Montas. Montas has had a mixed season, posting a 4-7 record with a 4.38 ERA across 17 starts. His most recent outing saw him give up five earned runs over seven innings against the Rockies. He's looking to bounce back and put in a strong performance against the Nationals.
Countering for the Nationals is Patrick Corbin. Corbin has struggled this season, with a 4-9 record and a 5.57 ERA in 19 starts. He has given up at least one home run in each of his last four outings, but did manage to show glimpses of his potential with seven scoreless innings on June 24th. Corbin is projected to finish the game with five strikeouts.
Recent Performances
The Reds have been playing well on the road recently, boasting a 4-1 record in their last five away games. Conversely, the Nationals have had a tough time at home, holding a 2-3 record over their last five games. The Reds have shown resilience, with a 5-5 record when playing as favorites, while the Nationals have a commendable 6-4 straight-up record as underdogs.
Both teams are coming off losses in their most recent games; the Reds fell to the Marlins 3-2, while the Nationals were defeated 9-3 by the Brewers. Nick Lodolo gave up two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings in the Reds' game, with Elly De La Cruz hitting a home run in the first inning. On the Nationals' side, Jake Irvin allowed six earned runs in four innings against the Brewers. Despite these losses, the Nationals did manage to secure two wins in their most recent three-game series against the Brewers.
Offensive Statistics
Offensively, the Reds are averaging 4.5 runs per game, ranking 14th in the league. Their batting average stands at .231, placing them 17th in on-base percentage and 25th in strikeouts. Spencer Steer has been a standout performer for the Reds, driving in 60 runs and hitting 15 homers, making him 10th in the MLB for RBIs.
The Nationals are averaging 4.1 runs per game, which ranks them 23rd in the league and slightly higher at home with 4.2 runs per game. They have a batting average of .239 and rank 13th in on-base percentage. CJ Abrams leads the team's offense with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs, although he has struggled recently, going 3/21 in his last five games.
Betting and Absences
The Reds are favored to win the game, while the Nationals are marked as underdogs at +105 with a projected 62% chance of victory. The over/under for the game is set at nine runs. Under similar conditions this season, the Reds have a 2-16-3 record, while the Nationals are 7-7-2.
In terms of player availability, the Reds will be without Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain. The Nationals will miss the contributions of Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams.
Looking ahead, the Reds will aim to leverage their recent form on the road and capitalize on their favorite status to secure a victory. The Nationals, on the other hand, will be hoping that Patrick Corbin can recapture the form he showed in late June to help them upset the odds and turn their home fortunes around.
Regardless of the outcome, this matchup promises to be an intriguing battle between two teams eager to climb up their respective standings and make a mark as the season progresses.