Nationals take 1-0 lead over Reds into game 2

Cincinnati Reds (47-51, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Washington Nationals (45-53, fourth in the NL East)

Washington; Saturday, 6:45 p.m. EDT

PROBABLE PITCHING: Reds: Nick Lodolo (8-3, 3.33 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 81 strikeouts); Nationals: MacKenzie Gore (6-8, 4.20 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 116 strikeouts)

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK: LINE Nationals -111, Reds -109; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

CONCLUSION: The Washington Nationals enter the next game of the series against the Cincinnati Reds with a 1-0 lead.

Washington is 21-24 at home and 45-53 overall. The Nationals have a 33-17 record in games in which they have at least eight hits.

Cincinnati is 47-51 overall and 22-23 away. The Reds have gone 34-8 in games in which they scored five or more runs.

Saturday’s matchup will be the fifth time these teams have faced each other this season. The season series is tied at 2-2.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jesse Winker has 18 doubles, 11 homers and 43 RBI while hitting .266 for the Nationals. Luis Garcia is 15-for-38 with three doubles and two homers in the last 10 games.

Elly De La Cruz has 19 doubles, six triples and 17 home runs for the Reds. Rece Hinds is 12-for-30 with four doubles, a triple and five home runs in the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Nationals: 4-6, .264 batting average, 5.86 ERA, 15 fewer runs

Reds: 5-5, .264 batting average, 4.04 ERA, outscored opponents by 15 runs

INJURIES: Nationals: Josiah Gray: 60 days IL (elbow), Joey Gallo: 10 days IL (hamstring), Trevor Williams: 15 days IL (shoulder), Cade Cavalli: 60 days IL (elbow), Mason Thompson: 60 days IL (elbow)

Reds: Carson Spiers: 15 days IL (shoulder), Nick Martini: 60 days IL (thumb), Graham Ashcraft: 15 days IL (elbow), Luke Maile: 10 days IL (back), Emilio Pagan: 60 days IL (lat), TJ Friedl: 10 days IL (hamstring), Christian Encarnacion-Strand: 60 days IL (hand), Brandon Williamson: 60 days IL (shoulder), Ian Gibaut: 60 days IL (forearm), Tejay Antone: 60 days IL (elbow), Matt McLain: 60 days IL (shoulder)

___

The Associated Press produced this story using technology from Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The Associated Press