Reds Set to Face Nationals: A Key Matchup at Nationals Park
Friday evening brings an intriguing clash as the Cincinnati Reds take on the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. The first pitch is set for 6:45 PM ET, and both teams will be keen to improve their standing as they hit the diamond.
The Reds, with a season record of 47-50, find themselves in 4th place in the NL Central, trailing the Brewers by eight games. Their opponents, the Nationals, sit at 44-53, also in 4th place, but in the NL East, lagging behind the Phillies by 18.5 games.
Pitching Matchup: Montas vs. Corbin
Frankie Montas will take the mound for the Reds. Montas has had a mixed season, with a 4-7 record and a 4.38 ERA over 17 starts. In his last outing against the Rockies, Montas struggled, allowing five earned runs in seven innings. However, he will look to bounce back and deliver a strong performance against the Nationals.
On the other side, Patrick Corbin will start for Washington. Corbin, who holds a 4-9 record with a 5.57 ERA across 19 starts, has had issues with home runs, giving up at least one in each of his last four outings. Yet, he has shown flashes of brilliance, including a seven-scoreless-inning performance on June 24th. Corbin is projected to finish the game with five strikeouts, and Nationals fans will hope for another standout performance.
Team Form and Recent Performances
Heading into this game, the Reds have been slightly better on the road, holding a 4-1 record over their last five away games. However, their overall performance as favorites stands at 5-5. The Cincinnati squad will also be missing key players Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain.
The Nationals, meanwhile, have posted a 2-3 record at home over their last five games. Despite being marked as underdogs at +105 with a projected 62% chance of victory, they boast a solid 6-4 straight-up record as underdogs and a 5-5 record against the run line in similar situations. Notably, the Nationals have a 46-34 record against the run line as underdogs.
Both teams are coming off recent losses. The Reds dropped their last game against the Marlins 3-2, with Nick Lodolo giving up two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings and Elly De La Cruz hitting a home run in the first inning. The Nationals succumbed to the Brewers with a 9-3 defeat, wherein Jake Irvin conceded six earned runs in four innings.
Offensive Capabilities
Offensively, the Reds are averaging 4.5 runs per game, placing them 14th in the league. They hold a batting average of .231, ranking 17th in on-base percentage but 25th in strikeouts. Spencer Steer has been a standout, driving in 60 runs and hitting 15 home runs, making him the 10th best in RBIs in the MLB.
In contrast, the Nationals average 4.1 runs per game, ranking 23rd overall, but improve slightly to 4.2 runs per game when playing at home. They have a batting average of .239 and rank 13th in on-base percentage. Leading the charge for Washington is CJ Abrams, who despite his recent 3/21 slump over the last five games, has amassed 15 home runs and 48 RBIs this season.
Betting Line and Over/Under
The game’s over/under is set at nine runs. Historically, the Reds have struggled with this marker, holding a 2-16-3 record when the over/under is set at nine runs. The Nationals, however, have fared better under similar conditions, boasting a 7-7-2 record.
Both teams will be missing key players for this game. Apart from the Reds' absences of Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain, the Nationals will have to cope without Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams.
As the Reds and Nationals square off, fans can expect a competitive game with both teams being keen to turn their fortunes around and climb their respective divisional standings. With Frankie Montas and Patrick Corbin on the mound, the spotlight will be on these pitchers to set the tone early in this pivotal matchup.