The Cincinnati Reds are set to face off against the Washington Nationals this Friday evening at Nationals Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:45 PM ET. As both teams gear up for this encounter, it will be a contest between two clubs striving to gain traction in their respective divisions.
Current Season Performance
The Reds, coming into this game with a season record of 47-50, are currently positioned 4th in the NL Central. They trail the division-leading Brewers by eight games. On the other hand, the Nationals hold a 44-53 record and also sit 4th, but in the NL East, lagging behind the Phillies by a more substantial 18.5 games.
Pitching Matchup
The Reds will send Frankie Montas to the mound. Montas holds a 4-7 record with a 4.38 ERA across 17 starts this season. However, his recent performance against the Rockies saw him yield five earned runs over seven innings. In contrast, the Nationals will counter with Patrick Corbin, who enters the game 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 projected to notch five strikeouts in this contest, a crucial stat to keep an eye on.
Recent Performances and Trends
The Reds have shown strength on the road, boasting a 4-1 record over their last five away games. Meanwhile, the Nationals are 2-3 in their last five home games. As favorites, the Reds have broken even with a 5-5 record, while the Nationals have a decent 6-4 straight-up record as underdogs and an identical 5-5 record against the runline in such scenarios.
Both teams are coming off losses. The Reds dropped their last game against the Marlins with a narrow 3-2 score, where Nick Lodolo conceded two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, and Elly De La Cruz hit a home run in the first inning. Conversely, the Nationals were outplayed by the Brewers in a 9-3 loss, with Jake Irvin allowing six earned runs over four innings.
Team Statistics
Offensively, the Reds are averaging 4.5 runs per game, placing them 14th in the league. Their team batting average sits at .231, with a ranking of 17th in on-base percentage and 25th in strikeouts. Spencer Steer has been a standout, leading the team with 60 RBIs and 15 home runs, making him the 10th best in RBIs in the MLB.
The Nationals, meanwhile, average 4.1 runs per game, ranking 23rd in the league, and marginally better at home with 4.2 runs per game. They have a batting average of .239 and rank 13th in on-base percentage. CJ Abrams leads the Nationals with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs but has struggled recently, going just 3/21 in his last five games.
Betting Odds and Over/Under
From a betting perspective, the Reds are favored in this matchup, while the Nationals are underdogs at +105 yet surprisingly hold a projected 62% chance of victory. The over/under for the game is set at nine runs. The Reds have a 2-16-3 record when the over/under is nine runs, while the Nationals have a more balanced 7-7-2 record under these conditions.
Injury Report
Both teams will be missing key players. The Reds will be without Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain. For the Nationals, absences include Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams.
Against the Run Line
The Reds have performed solidly on the run line, standing at 53-44 overall and an impressive 30-14 on the road. The Nationals, too, have a notable 46-34 record against the run line as underdogs.
This game shapes up to be an intriguing battle with both teams looking to improve their standings and kickstart a strong finish to the season. Fans and bettors alike will be keenly watching how Montas and Corbin perform under the spotlight, as each team aims to capitalize on their opportunities against a comparable opponent.