On Friday evening, the Cincinnati Reds will take on the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park, with game time set for 6:45 PM ET. Both teams are looking to improve their standings, though the outlook for each squad is somewhat different as they approach this mid-season clash.
The Reds enter the game with a season record of 47-50, placing them in 4th place in the NL Central. They are trailing the Brewers by eight games, and this game represents an opportunity to close the gap. For bettors, the Reds come into this matchup as the favorites. Despite this, the Nationals are noted as underdogs with +105 odds but intriguingly have a projected 62% chance of victory.
On the mound for the Reds will be Frankie Montas, who holds a 4-7 record with a 4.38 ERA in 17 starts this season. Montas had a rough outing against the Rockies in his last game, giving up five earned runs over seven innings. Meanwhile, the Nationals will counter with Patrick Corbin, whose 4-9 record and 5.57 ERA across 19 starts have left room for improvement. Though Corbin has given up at least one home run in each of his last four outings, he did pitch seven scoreless innings on June 24th and is projected to finish with five strikeouts in this game.
Team Performances and Standings
The Reds have shown some momentum on the road recently, with a 4-1 record in their previous five away games. However, their most recent game was a narrow 3-2 loss against the Marlins, where Nick Lodolo gave up two earned runs in 4 2/3 innings, and Elly De La Cruz launched a home run in the first inning.
The Nationals, conversely, have been struggling with a 2-3 record at home over their last five games and a 3-7 record over their last 10 games. Their latest defeat came at the hands of the Brewers, ending in a 9-3 loss with pitcher Jake Irvin conceding six earned runs in four innings. Yet, they found some solace in winning two of three games in their most recent series against the Brewers.
Offensive and Defensive Metrics
The Reds average 4.5 runs per game, placing them 14th in the league. They have a team batting average of .231, and ranking 17th in on-base percentage, but 25th in strikeouts. Spencer Steer has been a standout performer for Cincinnati, driving in 60 runs and hitting 15 homers, which ranks him 10th best in RBIs in the MLB. However, Cincinnati will miss the presence of Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain due to injuries.
Washington averages 4.1 runs per game, ranking them 23rd in the league, although they perform slightly better at home with an average of 4.2 runs. Their batting average stands at .239, making them 13th in on-base percentage. CJ Abrams has been leading the Nationals with 15 home runs and 48 RBIs, although he has hit a slump recently, going just 3 for 21 in his last five games. The Nationals also face notable absences with Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams sidelined due to injuries.
Betting Angles and Lineup Insights
The over/under for the game is set at nine runs. When the over/under is set at nine runs, the Reds have a challenging 2-16-3 record, whereas the Nationals have a somewhat balanced 7-7-2 record under similar conditions. The Reds have shown strong performance on the run line with a 53-44 record overall and an impressive 30-14 on the road. Meanwhile, the Nationals have a 46-34 record against the run line when playing as underdogs.
As the teams prepare to face off, fans and observers can expect an intriguing contest with both squads eager to capitalize on their strengths and overcome their hurdles. Given the intricate dynamics at play, from pitching matchups to recent form and individual player contributions, this game promises to add another memorable chapter in the journeys of both the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals this season.