As the summer air thickens in Washington, the Cincinnati Reds are set to clash with the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park this Friday evening at 6:45 PM ET. Both teams find themselves in the thick of the midseason grind, with the Reds posting a season record of 47-50 and the Nationals trailing slightly with a 44-53 record.
The Reds currently occupy fourth place in the NL Central, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by eight games. Meanwhile, the Nationals are also rooted in fourth place in the NL East, 18.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies. Notably, the Reds are favored to win this matchup despite their rocky overall season performance, while the Nationals, listed as underdogs at +105, surprisingly carry a 62% projected chance of victory.
The Pitching Duel
At the heart of this contest lies an intriguing pitching duel. The Reds will send Frankie Montas to the mound. Montas sports a 4-7 record with a 4.38 ERA across 17 starts this season. In his last outing, he conceded five earned runs over seven innings against the Colorado Rockies. Montas, known for his tenacity and powerful arsenal, will be aiming to find his rhythm and give the Reds a much-needed boost.
The Nationals will counter with Patrick Corbin, a pitcher with a 4-9 record and a 5.57 ERA through 19 starts this season. Corbin has had his struggles, notably giving up at least one home run in each of his last four outings. However, he has shown flashes of brilliance, such as when he pitched seven scoreless innings on June 24th. Corbin is projected to finish with five strikeouts in this game, an area he will need to dominate if the Nationals are to have a fighting chance.
Team Form and Previous Encounters
The Reds come into this game with a 4-1 record in their last five away games, showcasing their resilience on the road. However, they are fresh off a narrow 3-2 loss to the Miami Marlins, where Nick Lodolo gave up two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings and Elly De La Cruz hit a home run in the first inning. These moments of brilliance and consistency on the road may play a significant role in their attempt to gain traction in the standings.
The Nationals, on the other hand, have had a mixed run of form. They hold a 2-3 record at home over their last five games and recently endured a 9-3 defeat to the Milwaukee Brewers, where Jake Irvin conceded six earned runs over four innings. Despite this, they managed to win two out of the three games in their most recent series against the Brewers, showing some potential for an upset.
Offensive Insights
Offensively, both teams have had their challenges and strengths. The Reds are averaging 4.5 runs per game, placing them 14th in the league, with a team batting average of .231. Spencer Steer has been a standout performer, driving in 60 runs and hitting 15 homers, positioning himself among the top ten in RBIs in the MLB.
The Nationals, averaging 4.1 runs per game, sit at 23rd in the league. At home, their performance slightly improves with an average of 4.2 runs per game. Their team batting average of .239 ranks them 13th in on-base percentage. CJ Abrams, although currently in a slump with just three hits in his last 21 at-bats, leads the team with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs.
Odds and Absences
The game's over/under is set at nine runs, an area where both teams have had varied success. The Reds hold a 2-16-3 record when the over/under is set at nine runs, while the Nationals are 7-7-2 under similar conditions.
Both teams are dealing with notable absences. For the Reds, Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain will be missing, while Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams are key absences for the Nationals. These missing players will undoubtedly impact the dynamics and strategies employed by both teams.
The Road Ahead
As the Reds and Nationals prepare to lock horns, this game holds significance for both squads as they navigate the grueling midseason schedule. The Reds will look to capitalize on their road prowess, boasting a 30-14 performance on the run line on the road, while the Nationals seek to leverage their occasional spark to overturn their fortunes at home.
With both teams having something to prove, this matchup promises to deliver an engaging contest under the Friday night lights in Washington. Fans and analysts alike will closely watch how Montas and Corbin fare on the mound and whether the Reds can validate their favored status against a Nationals team hungry for a home victory.