The Cincinnati Reds Battle the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park
This Friday evening, baseball enthusiasts will have their eyes on Nationals Park as the Cincinnati Reds take on the Washington Nationals at 6:45 PM ET. Both teams are navigating through challenging seasons, with very slim margins for error as they aim to improve their standings.
Team Records and Standings
The Cincinnati Reds come into this matchup with a season record of 47-50, placing them in fourth position in the NL Central, trailing the Brewers by eight games. On the other hand, the Washington Nationals hold a season record of 44-53, also sitting in fourth place in their division, the NL East. However, their situation looks a bit more daunting as they trail the Phillies by a considerable 18.5 games.
Pitching Matchup: Frankie Montas vs. Patrick Corbin
The Reds are favored in tonight's game, with Frankie Montas taking the mound. Montas has a season record of 4-7, with a 4.38 ERA across 17 starts. He had a rough outing in his last appearance, allowing five earned runs over seven innings against the Rockies. Despite his struggles, Montas has shown moments of brilliance this season, and the Reds will be hoping he can tap into that potential against the Nationals.
For the Nationals, veteran pitcher Patrick Corbin will start. Corbin has faced a tough season, recording a 4-9 record with a 5.57 ERA in 19 starts. The left-hander has been particularly susceptible to the long ball, giving up at least one home run in each of his last four outings. Nevertheless, Corbin can deliver solid performances, as evidenced by his seven scoreless innings pitched on June 24th. He’s projected to notch five strikeouts in this game.
Recent Performances
The Reds have shown resilience on the road, boasting a 4-1 record in their previous five away games. Conversely, the Nationals have struggled at home, managing just a 2-3 record over their last five games at Nationals Park. Cincinnati has also been reliable when playing as favorites, holding a 5-5 record in such scenarios.
In their previous outings, both teams faced setbacks. The Reds narrowly lost to the Marlins with a 3-2 scoreline. Nick Lodolo allowed two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, while Elly De La Cruz hit a home run in the first inning. The Nationals, meanwhile, suffered a heavy 9-3 defeat against the Brewers, with Jake Irvin giving up six earned runs in four innings. Despite that, the Nationals managed to win two out of three games in their recent series against the Brewers.
Offensive Insights
Offensively, the Reds have been more consistent, averaging 4.5 runs per game, ranking 14th in the league. They have a batting average of .231, placing them 17th in on-base percentage and 25th in strikeouts. Spencer Steer has been a key player for the Reds, driving in 60 runs, placing him among the top 10 RBI leaders in MLB with 15 home runs.
For the Nationals, scoring has been a bit more challenging. They average 4.1 runs per game, ranking 23rd in the league, although this improves slightly to 4.2 runs per game at home. Their batting average stands at .239, ranking a respectable 13th in on-base percentage. CJ Abrams has been a standout performer with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs, although he’s been in a slump, hitting just 3/21 in his last five games.
Betting and Odds
As for the betting landscape, the Nationals are listed as underdogs at +105 despite having a projected 62% chance of victory. The over/under for tonight's game is set at nine runs. The Reds have struggled under this condition, holding a 2-16-3 record when the total is set at nine, while the Nationals have fared slightly better with a 7-7-2 record.
Absences and Injuries
Both teams will be dealing with some notable absences. For the Reds, Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain will be unavailable. The Nationals will miss Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams.
Against the run line, the Reds have an impressive 53-44 record and have particularly excelled on the road with a 30-14 record. The Nationals also perform well as underdogs with a 46-34 record against the run line.
With both teams looking to bounce back from recent losses, tonight's game promises an intriguing battle, as the Reds aim to build on their road success and the Nationals strive to rediscover form at home.