Reds vs Nationals predictions
Let’s talk about the Cincinnati Reds and some faces to watch as this matchup at Nationals Park gets rolling. Elly De La Cruz is having himself quite a season as the Reds’ leader in several offensive categories, and with the way he’s been swinging, I like him to pick up at least a hit and maybe swipe a bag. I’m also eyeing Jake Fraley and TJ Friedl to chip in some timely hitting, making the lineup look pretty solid one through nine. On the mound, Chase Burns is probably rolling out for about five or six tough innings, and his recent run of form points to him keeping the Nats' bats in check while racking up a decent strikeout count. Can the top of this Reds order get to Brad Lord early? That’s the real question that’s got my attention.
Flipping it to the Washington Nationals, there are a couple of guys who could make things interesting—CJ Abrams is sporting a solid batting average, and his ability to make things happen at the plate should give the Reds’ defense something to think about all night. James Wood, with his power and knack for knocking in runs, is another batter who could deliver some fireworks. Luis Garcia is a dark horse here; he looks poised for one of those games where he quietly fills up the stat sheet with a couple of hits. Brad Lord is likely the arm starting things off for Washington, and he’s capable of keeping this one close through at least five innings if he can avoid the big mistakes.
So, who’s taking this one? The Nationals do come in with home-field, but the Reds are just the hotter team right now and seem to have the edge both in depth and momentum. With De La Cruz leading the charge and solid contributions from up and down the order, plus a strong chance for Chase Burns to put together a quality start, I’m leaning pretty confidently toward the Cincinnati Reds pulling out the win in this one. Still, don’t be shocked if the Nationals make things interesting—this is MLB baseball, after all, and anything can happen.
