On Friday evening, the Cincinnati Reds will face off against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park at 6:45 PM ET. This matchup brings together two teams striving for better positioning as the season progresses. Here's a breakdown of what to expect as these two teams go head-to-head.
Team Standings and Recent Performances
The Cincinnati Reds enter the game with a season record of 47-50, which places them 4th in the NL Central. They are currently trailing the Milwaukee Brewers by eight games. Meanwhile, the Nationals hold a 44-53 record and find themselves 4th in the NL East, with an 18.5-game gap behind the leading Philadelphia Phillies.
Recent performances tell a tale of contrasting fortunes for these teams. The Reds have managed a 4-1 record over their last five away games, showing some strength on the road. Conversely, the Nationals have struggled to find form at home, posting a 2-3 record over their previous five games at Nationals Park. Moreover, the Nationals have registered a troubling 3-7 record over their last ten games.
Pitching Matchup: Montas vs. Corbin
The Reds will send Frankie Montas to the mound for the start. Montas has experienced a mixed season, holding a 4-7 record with a 4.38 ERA across 17 starts. His last outing against the Rockies saw him give up five earned runs in seven innings, a performance he will look to improve upon in this game.
For the Nationals, Patrick Corbin will take the hill. Corbin has had his own struggles this season, reflected in his 4-9 record and 5.57 ERA across 19 starts. One area of concern for Corbin has been his propensity to give up home runs, having allowed at least one in each of his last four outings. However, he showcased his potential with a standout performance on June 24th, pitching seven scoreless innings. He is projected to finish with five strikeouts in the upcoming game.
Offensive Prospects
Offensively, the Reds are averaging 4.5 runs per game, ranking 14th in the league, coupled with a team batting average of .231. Standout player Spencer Steer has been a key contributor, driving in 60 runs and hitting 15 homers, placing him among the top ten in RBIs in MLB.
The Nationals, crossing the plate an average of 4.1 times per game and 4.2 runs per game at home, rank 23rd in the league in scoring. Their batting average stands slightly higher at .239, with an impressive on-base percentage ranking 13th in the league. CJ Abrams leads the Nationals in home runs with 15 and has accumulated 48 RBIs. However, his recent form has been lukewarm, going 3 for 21 in his last five games.
Game dynamics
The Reds are favored in this game despite the Nationals being pinned as underdogs at +105, with a projected 62% chance of victory. This projection might be influenced by contextual details such as the Reds' recent run-line performance of 53-44, especially notable on the road where they boast a 30-14 record.
Both teams are coming off losses, with the Reds dropping a close 3-2 game to the Marlins and the Nationals suffering a more lopsided 9-3 defeat against the Brewers. Each team’s ability to rebound from these setbacks will be pivotal.
Injury Report
Injuries will also play a significant role in this game. The Reds are missing key players like Joey Gallo, Luke Maile, and Matt McLain. For the Nationals, notable absences include Trevor Williams, Josiah Gray, and CJ Abrams.
Betting lines and records
The over/under for the game is set at nine runs. When the over/under is set at this mark, the Reds have a 2-16-3 record, indicating a general trend towards lower-scoring games. The Nationals, by contrast, hold a 7-7-2 record under similar conditions. Furthermore, as underdogs, the Nationals have shown a capacity to surprise, boasting a 6-4 straight-up record and a commendable 5-5 record against the run line.
As the Reds and Nationals prepare to clash, fans can expect a tightly contested encounter defined by both teams' aspirations to climb the standings and overcome recent adversities. The pitcher duel between Montas and Corbin, combined with varying offensive strengths, sets the stage for an intriguing matchup under the Friday night lights at Nationals Park.