As the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals clash at Nationals Park Friday evening at 6:45 PM ET, fans can expect a competitive matchup between two teams striving to climb their respective division standings. Both with sub-.500 records, the Reds and Nationals are looking to regain momentum as they head into the second half of the season.
Team Comparisons
The Cincinnati Reds currently sit at a season record of 47-50, placing them in 4th place in the NL Central, eight games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. Conversely, the Washington Nationals are 44-53 this season, also in 4th place, but in the NL East, trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by a substantial 18.5 games. The Reds have been marked as favorites in this game while the Nationals, though underdogs at +105, have a projected 62% chance of victory.
Pitcher Showdown
Frankie Montas will be taking the mound for the Reds. Montas, who holds a 4-7 record with a 4.38 ERA over 17 starts this season, comes into the game looking to bounce back after giving up five earned runs in seven innings against the Rockies. On the other side, the Nationals will counter with Patrick Corbin, who has a 4-9 record and a 5.57 ERA across 19 appearances. Corbin has struggled recently, allowing at least one home run in each of his last four outings, despite pitching seven scoreless innings just a few weeks ago on June 24th.
Recent Performance
Both teams enter the game looking to improve on their recent performances. The Reds have been fairly successful on the road, winning four of their last five away games, and hold an overall record of 4-1 in similar situations. On the flip side, the Nationals have struggled at home, posting a 2-3 record in their last five home games. The Reds, playing as favorites, have a balanced 5-5 record, while the Nationals have excelled as underdogs with a 6-4 straight-up record and 5-5 against the run line.
Previous Encounters
Both teams are coming off losses. The Reds fell to the Miami Marlins with a close score of 3-2, where Nick Lodolo allowed two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, and Elly De La Cruz launched a home run in the first inning. The Nationals' previous game saw them heavily defeated by the Brewers 9-3, with Jake Irvin giving up six earned runs over four innings. Despite this, the Nationals had some success in their recent series against the Brewers, winning two out of three games, though they hold a 3-7 record over their last 10 games.
Offensive Analysis
The Reds enter this game averaging 4.5 runs per game, ranked 14th in the league. They maintain a batting average of .231, which places them 17th in on-base percentage and 25th in strikeouts. Notably, Spencer Steer has been a crucial player for the Reds with 60 RBIs and 15 home runs, ranking him 10th in RBIs within MLB. The Nationals, averaging 4.1 runs per game, rank 23rd in the league, and they marginally improve to an average of 4.2 runs per game at home. Their batting average stands at .239, with a 13th place rank in on-base percentage. CJ Abrams has been a standout with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs, although he's currently experiencing a slump, going just 3/21 in his last five games.
Game Odds and Injuries
For this matchup, the over/under is set at nine runs. Historically, the Reds have struggled with a 2-16-3 record when the over/under is set at nine runs, whereas the Nationals have been more balanced with a 7-7-2 record in similar conditions. Both teams have notable absences that could impact the game's outcome. For the Reds, Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain are out, while the Nationals will be without Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams.
Running the Lines
The Reds have an impressive record on the run line, standing at 53-44 overall, and particularly strong at 30-14 on the road. The Nationals also have notable stats against the run line, especially as underdogs, boasting a 46-34 record.
As both teams prepare to face off, this game represents an opportunity for the Reds to solidify their road prowess and for the Nationals to leverage their underdog potential to close the gap in their respective standings.