The Cincinnati Reds are set to face off against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park this Friday evening at 6:45 PM ET. As both teams ready themselves for the showdown, fans can expect an intriguing battle between two teams eager to climb their respective division standings.
Currently, the Cincinnati Reds hold a season record of 47-50, placing them in fourth place in the NL Central. They trail the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers by eight games. On the other hand, the Washington Nationals have a season record of 44-53 and are also positioned in fourth place in the NL East, lagging 18.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies.
Pitching Matchup
Taking the mound for the Reds is Frankie Montas, who has a record of 4-7 with a 4.38 ERA across 17 starts this season. Montas, however, had a challenging outing against the Colorado Rockies in his last game, conceding five earned runs over seven innings.
Opposite Montas, Patrick Corbin will start for the Nationals. Corbin has faced his own struggles this season, holding a 4-9 record with a 5.57 ERA in 19 starts. The left-hander has allowed at least one home run in each of his last four outings but did manage to pitch seven scoreless innings on June 24th. Heading into this game, Corbin is expected to tally five strikeouts.
Team Form
The Reds come into this game with a better recent away record, boasting a 4-1 mark over their last five road games. Conversely, the Nationals have had a tougher time at home, posting a 2-3 record over their last five appearances at Nationals Park.
However, the Nationals have shown resilience as underdogs, holding a 6-4 straight-up record and going 5-5 against the run line when not favored. The Cincinnati Reds, on the other hand, are favored for this matchup but have a mixed 5-5 record when playing as favorites.
Recent Performances
Both teams are coming off losses. The Reds dropped their last game against the Miami Marlins with a close scoreline of 3-2. In that match, Nick Lodolo gave up two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, while Elly De La Cruz hit a home run in the first inning. Meanwhile, the Nationals were outmatched by the Milwaukee Brewers, losing 9-3, with Jake Irvin allowing six earned runs in four innings.
Despite these setbacks, the Nationals did win two out of their three most recent games against the Brewers. Nevertheless, they have struggled overall, with a 3-7 record in their last 10 games.
Batting Averages and Key Players
Offensively, the Reds are averaging 4.5 runs per game, placing them 14th in the league. Their batting average stands at .231, ranking them 17th in on-base percentage and 25th in strikeouts. Spencer Steer has been a highlight for the Reds, driving in 60 runs and hitting 15 homers, making him 10th best in RBIs across MLB.
In contrast, the Nationals are averaging 4.1 runs per game, ranking 23rd in the league, and their performance at home is slightly better at 4.2 runs per game. They hold a .239 batting average and rank 13th in on-base percentage. CJ Abrams leads the Nationals with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs, although he has struggled recently, going just 3/21 in his last five games.
Game Odds and Expectations
The betting odds favor the Reds for this game. However, despite being marked as underdogs at +105, the Nationals are projected to have a 62% chance of victory, indicating a potentially close contest.
The over/under for the game is set at nine runs. Under similar conditions, the Reds have a 2-16-3 record, whereas the Nationals stand at 7-7-2.
Missing Key Players
Both teams will be missing significant players. The Reds will be without Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain, while the Nationals will miss the services of Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams.
On the run line, the Reds boast a solid 53-44 record and have performed exceptionally well on the road with a 30-14 mark. The Nationals have a commendable 46-34 record against the run line as underdogs, demonstrating their ability to compete in challenging circumstances.
As game time approaches, both the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals will be eager to secure a win, making for an exciting matchup at Nationals Park. Fans should be ready for a thrilling contest between these two gritty teams.