Cincinnati Reds vs. Washington Nationals Game Preview

On Friday evening, the Cincinnati Reds will be facing off against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, with the game set to start at 6:45 PM ET. This matchup sees the Reds slightly favored despite their close proximity in overall season records.

The Reds currently hold a season record of 47-50, positioning them in 4th place within the NL Central. They trail the Milwaukee Brewers by eight games. On the other hand, the Nationals have a season record of 44-53, also sitting in 4th place, but in the NL East, and lag behind the Phillies by a more significant 18.5 games.

Starting on the mound for the Reds will be Frankie Montas. Throughout the season, Montas has struggled somewhat, putting up a 4-7 record and a 4.38 ERA over 17 starts. His last appearance against the Rockies saw him surrender five earned runs over seven innings. On the opposing side, Patrick Corbin will start for the Nationals. Corbin has faced similar struggles, with a 4-9 record and a 5.57 ERA across 19 starts. Notably, Corbin has allowed at least one home run in each of his last four outings, although he did pitch seven scoreless innings on June 24th. Corbin is anticipated to tally about five strikeouts in this game.

Team Performance and Recent Form

The Reds come into this game with a fairly strong recent performance on the road, having a 4-1 record over their last five away games. Conversely, the Nationals have a 2-3 record at home over their last five games.

As favorites, the Reds have been mired in mediocrity, recording a 5-5 performance. The Nationals, when slated as underdogs, have shown a bit more consistency with a 6-4 straight-up record and a 5-5 record against the run line. Additionally, recent history indicates caution for the Nationals as they have only managed a 3-7 record over the last 10 games, although they did manage to clinch two out of three games in their most recent series against the Brewers.

In their last outings, both teams faced defeats. The Reds narrowly lost to the Marlins with a score of 3-2, a game in which 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. The Nationals were handed a more decisive loss by the Brewers, ending with a 9-3 score; Jake Irvin conceded six earned runs in just four innings.

Offensive Comparisons

Offensively, the Reds have shown more firepower than the Nationals, averaging 4.5 runs per game, ranking 14th in the league, compared to the Nationals' 4.1 runs per game which ranks them 23rd. The Nationals fare slightly better at home, bumping their average to 4.2 runs per game. The Reds also hold a higher overall batting average of .231 compared to the Nationals' .239. Of note, the Reds rank 17th in on-base percentage but struggle in plate discipline, ranking 25th in strikeouts.

On the player front, Spencer Steer has been a bright spot for the Reds, driving in 60 runs and hitting 15 homers, which ranks him 10th in RBIs across MLB. For the Nationals, CJ Abrams leads with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs, though his recent form has been a concern as he is currently 3 for 21 in his last five games.

Over/Under Insights

For those tracking over/under bets, the line is set at nine runs for the game. The Reds have an underwhelming track record when the over/under is set at nine runs, sitting at 2-16-3. Meanwhile, the Nationals have a more balanced 7-7-2 record under similar conditions.

Key Absences

Both teams will be missing key players. The Reds will be without Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain. The Nationals, on their part, will miss Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams.

Against the run line, the Reds have shown strong performances with a 53-44 overall record, and particularly impressive on the road at 30-14. The Nationals also hold a promising 46-34 record against the run line as underdogs.

As the first pitch approaches, both teams will be eager to capitalize on their strengths and rectify their recent shortcomings to secure a victory. Fans at Nationals Park should be in for an intriguing contest.