On Friday evening, baseball fans will witness a riveting match-up as the Cincinnati Reds face off against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. First pitch is set for 6:45 PM ET, and the game promises to be a compelling contest given the circumstances surrounding both teams.
The Cincinnati Reds currently hold a season record of 47-50, situating them in 4th place in the NL Central, eight games behind the leading Milwaukee Brewers. In contrast, the Washington Nationals possess a 44-53 record, also residing in 4th place in their division but trailing the Philadelphia Phillies by a staggering 18.5 games.
Pitching Preview
Frankie Montas will take the mound for the Reds. Montas has posted a 4-7 record with a 4.38 ERA over 17 starts this season, a relatively modest performance. His most recent outing saw him surrender five earned runs across seven innings against the Colorado Rockies.
Opposing Montas will be Nationals’ starter Patrick Corbin. Corbin enters the game with a 4-9 record and a 5.57 ERA in his 19 starts this year. His performances have been erratic; while he pitched seven scoreless innings on June 24th, he has conceded at least one home run in each of his last four games. Corbin is projected to rack up five strikeouts in this outing, but given his fluctuating form, it's anyone's guess how he'll fare against the Reds.
Team Performance
The Reds, despite being favorites, actually exhibit only a 5-5 record when playing as such. Currently, they seem to be a team of momentum, boasting a 4-1 record in their previous five games away from home. However, they come into this game on the back of 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.
On the other hand, the Nationals have been shaky at home, holding a 2-3 record over their last five games played at Nationals Park. They are marked as underdogs in this encounter, with the odds of +105 yet still hold a projected 62% chance of victory. Their latest game saw them fall short 9-3 against the Milwaukee Brewers, with Jake Irvin allowing six earned runs in four innings. The Nationals, however, did manage to claim two out of three games in their recent series against the Brewers.
Batting and Run Production
Offensively, the Reds are averaging 4.5 runs per game, ranking 14th in the league. Their batting average stands at .231, placing them 17th in on-base percentage but a disconcerting 25th in strikeouts. Spencer Steer has been a standout, amassing 60 RBIs and 15 home runs, which puts him among the top ten in RBIs across the MLB.
The Nationals average slightly less at 4.1 runs per game, ranking 23rd in the league, although they uptick to 4.2 runs per game when playing at home. They boast a higher team batting average of .239 and rank 13th in on-base percentage. CJ Abrams leads the Washington squad with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs, although his recent form indicates a slump, given his 3/21 performance over the last five games.
Odds and Over/Under
Bookmakers have set the over/under for this game at nine runs. The Reds possess a peculiar record of 2-16-3 when the over/under is set at nine, whereas the Nationals present a more balanced 7-7-2 under similar conditions. This detail might interest those looking to place an informed wager on the game’s total score.
Injury Updates
Both teams are dealing with a few key absences. The Reds will miss Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain, while the Nationals will be without the services of Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams.
Given the statistics and the form of both teams, this match-up promises intriguing scenarios for fans and analysts alike. While the Reds are slightly favored, the Nationals' potential to defy the odds makes this game a must-watch event.