As the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals gear up for their Friday evening showdown at Nationals Park, fans can expect an exciting clash starting at 6:45 PM ET. With the Reds slightly favored, the game promises to deliver drama and intrigue.
Team Records and Standings
The Reds, holding a season record of 47-50, find themselves in 4th place in the NL Central, trailing the Brewers by eight games. Meanwhile, the Nationals, sporting a 44-53 record, share a similar position in the NL East, sitting 4th and 18.5 games behind the Phillies.
The Reds are favored to win this game, though the Nationals are not without their chances. Marked as underdogs with odds of +105, the Nationals carry a projected 62% chance of victory.
Projected Starting Pitchers
Taking the mound for the Reds will be Frankie Montas. Montas has had a mixed season so far, with a 4-7 record and a 4.38 ERA in 17 starts. His last outing against the Rockies saw him give up five earned runs in seven innings, a performance he aims to improve upon tonight.
Opposing Montas is Patrick Corbin for the Nationals. Corbin has struggled throughout the season, evidenced by his 4-9 record and a lofty 5.57 ERA over 19 starts. Notably, he has allowed at least one home run in each of his last four outings. However, he does have the potential for strong performances, having pitched seven scoreless innings on June 24th. Analysts project him to notch five strikeouts in this game.
Recent Performance and Form
As the Reds arrive in Washington, they carry positive momentum, holding a 4-1 record over their previous five away games. In contrast, the Nationals have struggled at home recently, recording a 2-3 record over their last five games. Cincinnati also has a penchant for delivering when favored, boasting a 5-5 record in such situations.
Similarly, the Nationals perform decently as underdogs, with a 6-4 straight-up record and a 5-5 mark against the runline when viewed as underdogs.
Both teams faced defeats in their previous contests. The Reds were narrowly edged out by the Marlins, 3-2, despite a strong start from Nick Lodolo, who allowed just two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings. Elly De La Cruz provided a silver lining with a first-inning home run. Meanwhile, the Nationals were outplayed by the Brewers in a 9-3 loss, with Jake Irvin surrendering six earned runs in four innings.
Offensive and Defensive Analysis
Offensively, the Reds are averaging 4.5 runs per game, positioning them 14th in the league. However, their .231 batting average leaves room for improvement, currently ranking 17th in on-base percentage and 25th in strikeouts. Spencer Steer has been a standout, driving in 60 runs and hitting 15 home runs, securing his place among the top 10 in RBIs in the MLB.
Conversely, the Nationals average 4.1 runs per game, placing them 23rd in the league, though they show a slight uptick with a 4.2 runs-per-game average at home. With a .239 batting average, they rank 13th in on-base percentage. CJ Abrams spearheads the Nationals' offense with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs, although he has struggled recently, tallying just 3 hits in his last 21 at-bats.
Game Insights and Key Absences
With an over/under set at nine runs, betting trends show the Reds struggling under these conditions with a 2-16-3 record. The Nationals fare slightly better with a 7-7-2 record in similar scenarios.
Notably, both teams will miss some key players. The Reds are without Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain, while the Nationals will be missing Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams.
On the run line, the Reds have generally performed well, boasting a 53-44 record, including an impressive 30-14 on the road. The Nationals also have a respectable 46-34 record against the run line as underdogs.
As game time approaches, both teams will be keenly aware of the importance of this matchup. For the Reds, closing the gap in the NL Central is paramount, while the Nationals aim to salvage what has been a challenging season. With both teams bringing their unique strengths and weaknesses to the fore, this contest promises to be anything but predictable.