The Reds Vs Nationals series opens Friday night with Cincinnati carrying a four-game winning streak into Washington and the Nationals trying to reset after a difficult road trip. The Reds swept the Athletics and have gone 13-6 since the All-Star break, while Washington returns home after losing seven of eight and dropping three of four in Philadelphia.
The Nationals' Thursday afternoon loss was a 7-3 defeat to the Phillies, leaving them at 56-61 and 5.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. That is a tough place to be, especially with a home series starting against a Cincinnati team that has been playing with confidence for most of the second half.
Cade Cavalli gets the ball for Washington
The Nationals are expected to start Cade Cavalli on Friday night against the Reds, and he enters the matchup on a strong run of his own. Last Sunday, Cavalli recorded his fifth consecutive quality start against the Braves, continuing a stretch that has given Washington at least one reliable arm in the rotation.
On Thursday, the Reds finished a 6-5 win with home runs from Elly De La Cruz and Tyler Stephenson. That kind of timely offense has helped keep Cincinnati moving in the right direction, and it also makes the weekend series more difficult for a Washington staff that is still trying to stabilize after a rough trip.
Rotation plans for the rest of the series
Friday night was expected to feature Chase Petty for the Reds against Cavalli. On Saturday, Chase Burns was listed to start for Cincinnati against Andrew Alvarez. Burns already faced the Nationals in May, when he threw six scoreless innings against them. Sunday afternoon brings the most unusual start time of the series, with a 12:15 first pitch and national coverage on Peacock and NBCSN. Brady Singer was listed to start for the Reds, while Washington had not yet announced its starter.
For Cincinnati, the series is another chance to keep building on a strong second-half run. For Washington, it is a chance to bounce back quickly at home after an 8-of-9 skid and show that the season still has room for some late momentum.
