The Cincinnati Reds will face off against the Washington Nationals this Friday at Nationals Park, with the first pitch slated for 6:45 PM ET. Both teams find themselves in the middle of challenging seasons, seeking victories to claw their way up their respective division standings.
Cincinnati Reds Season Thus Far
The Reds enter the contest with a 47-50 record, currently sitting in 4th place in the NL Central. They trail the division-leading Brewers by eight games. Despite the uphill battle, the Reds have shown flashes of brilliance, particularly in their recent performance on the road, where they've earned a 4-1 record over their previous five away games. However, Cincinnati recently fell short in a tight game against the Miami Marlins, losing 3-2. In that outing, Nick Lodolo surrendered two earned runs over 4 2/3 innings, with Elly De La Cruz adding a home run in the first inning.
Frankie Montas will take the mound for the Reds. Montas has recorded a 4-7 record and a 4.38 ERA across 17 starts this season. His performance has been uneven, evidenced in his last start against the Rockies where he gave up five earned runs over seven innings. The Reds will rely on Montas to provide stability as they attempt to improve their status as the favored team for this matchup.
Washington Nationals Struggles
The Nationals come into this game with a season record of 44-53, placing them 4th in the NL East and 18.5 games behind the division-leading Phillies. Washington's recent form has been inconsistent, as they hold a 2-3 record over their last five home games. Even more concerning is their 3-7 record over the last 10 games, showcasing their difficulty in maintaining momentum.
Starting for the Nationals will be Patrick Corbin, who has had his struggles this season with a 4-9 record and a 5.57 ERA over 19 starts. Corbin has been particularly vulnerable to home runs, allowing at least one homer in each of his last four outings. However, he did have a standout performance on June 24th, pitching seven scoreless innings. Optimistically, Corbin is projected to finish the game with five strikeouts, a small ray of hope for the Nationals.
Offensive Performances and Key Players
The Reds are averaging 4.5 runs per game, which ranks them 14th in the league. Despite this, their batting average of .231 highlights a need for improvement, especially considering their ranking of 17th in on-base percentage and 25th in strikeouts. Spencer Steer has been a bright spot, driving in 60 runs and hitting 15 homers, placing him 10th in RBIs in the MLB.
On the other side, the Nationals average 4.1 runs per game, placing them 23rd in the league. Their performance is marginally better at home with an average of 4.2 runs per game. CJ Abrams has been a key contributor, leading the team with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs. However, Abrams has struggled recently, going just 3-for-21 in his last five games.
Odds and Expectations
The Reds are favored heading into the game, while the Nationals are positioned as underdogs with odds of +105 but still boast a projected 62% chance of victory. The over/under for the game is set at nine runs, with the Reds holding a 2-16-3 record under this condition, and the Nationals at 7-7-2.
Both teams will be missing key players, with Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain out for the Reds, and Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams absent for the Nationals. As the teams prepare to battle, the Reds will aim to capitalize on their recent strong away performance, while the Nationals strive to improve their home record and overall morale as the season progresses.