Reds Clash with Nationals at Nationals Park
The Cincinnati Reds are set to face the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park this evening at 6:45 PM ET. Both teams are keen to scrap their way up in their respective divisions as the Reds currently hold a 47-50 season record, positioning them in 4th place in the NL Central, trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by eight games. Meanwhile, the Nationals, who have a 44-53 record, are also in 4th place but in the NL East, trailing the Phillies by a substantial 18.5 games.
Starting Pitchers
Frankie Montas will take the mound for the Reds. His performance this season has been a mixed bag, evidenced by a 4-7 record and a 4.38 ERA across 17 starts. Montas struggled in his last outing against the Rockies, giving up five earned runs over seven innings. In stark contrast, the Nationals' Patrick Corbin will be starting on the opposite side. Corbin's season numbers also raise some eyebrows, holding a 4-9 record and a 5.57 ERA in 19 starts. Despite pitching seven scoreless innings on June 24th, Corbin has allowed at least one home run in each of his last four outings and is projected to tally five strikeouts in tonight's game.
Statistical Insights
Cincinnati seems to hold a slight edge going into this matchup. The Reds, who have a 4-1 record over their previous five away games, are favored in the game. On the flip side, the Nationals hold a 2-3 record at home over their last five games. Cincinnati has also shown a reasonably solid performance as favorites, managing a 5-5 record. Washington, marked as underdogs at +105 with a 62% chance of victory, have a decent 6-4 straight-up record when underdogs and a 5-5 record against the run line as underdogs.
Recent Performances
Both teams are coming off losses. The Reds narrowly lost to the Marlins with a score of 3-2. Despite Nick Lodolo's effort, conceding two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, it wasn't enough. Highlighting their performance was Elly De La Cruz, who hit a home run in the first inning. Contrarily, the Nationals faced a broader defeat against the Brewers, falling 9-3 as Jake Irvin gave up six earned runs in four innings. This continues a rough stretch for the Nationals, who have posted a 3-7 record over their last 10 games. Yet, they did claim two out of three games in their most recent series against the Brewers.
Offensive and Defensive Metrics
The Reds are averaging 4.5 runs per game, placing them 14th in the league. Although their batting average sits at .231 (17th in on-base percentage and 25th in strikeouts), they have some standouts. Spencer Steer is notably effective, driving in 60 runs and hitting 15 homers, making him the 10th best in RBIs in MLB. Meanwhile, the Nationals average 4.1 runs per game and 4.2 runs per game at home. Their team batting average is .239, ranking them 13th in on-base percentage. CJ Abrams leads the Nationals with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs but has struggled recently, going 3/21 in his last five games.
Line and Over/Under Bets
The run game's over/under is set at nine runs. The Reds have struggled in games with this over/under setting, holding a 2-16-3 record. Conversely, the Nationals seem more adaptable with a 7-7-2 record under the same condition. Additionally, Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain are key absences for the Reds, whereas the Nationals miss the services of Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams.
Run Line Records
Cincinnati has shown better form on the run line with an overall 53-44 record and an impressive 30-14 on the road. Washington, not far behind, has a 46-34 record against the run line as underdogs, suggesting this could be a tight-knit game despite the odds favoring the Reds.
This matchup is set to be a fascinating contest, with both teams eager to bounce back from recent disappointments. As fans gather at Nationals Park, the spotlight will be on the pitchers, Frankie Montas and Patrick Corbin, to set the tone for what promises to be an engaging evening of baseball.