Cincinnati Reds vs
Washington NationalsPredictions & Preview

Cincinnati Reds poised to defeat struggling Washington Nationals with Lodolo on the mound.

predictions for the rest of the baseball season.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Reds -140 | Nationals +123
• Spread: Reds -1.5 (+120) | Nationals +1.5 (-144)
• Total: Over/Under 9 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Cincinnati will win straight-up is 58%.

Cincinnati Reds

In the first game of the series, the Cincinnati Reds scored eight runs but ultimately fell short to the Washington Nationals who scored ten runs. The Reds currently hold the fourth position in the NL Central, sharing the same record as the third-placed Cardinals as of Tuesday night's games. They are trailing by 3.5 games for the final Wild Card spot. In Monday's game, Gavin Lux had two hits and two RBIs while occupying the DH spot and batting fifth. Lux, a 27-year-old outfielder, is in his first season with the Reds after spending five seasons with the Dodgers. He has hit four home runs and 39 RBIs with a .265 batting average. Elly de la Cruz, an All-Star shortstop, leads the team in various offensive categories including 18 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 107 hits, with a batting average of .279. Spencer Steer, the team's first baseman, bats sixth and has contributed 11 home runs and 41 RBIs this season. Nick Lodolo, a 27-year-old left-handed pitcher, will make his 21st start of the season with a 7-6 record. He has won four of his last five starts and has an ERA of 3.33 with 104 strikeouts and 23 walks. In his most recent start, Lodolo gave up eight runs over seven innings in a win against the Mets.

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals are currently struggling in the bottom of the NL East, having lost their last four games heading into the All-Star Break and dropping their first series back against the Padres. They are currently ahead of only the Pirates and Rockies in the National League standings and are 15 games out of the last Wild Card spot. In a recent game, Josh Bell hit his 12th home run of the season while batting third as the DH. Despite bouncing around the league, Bell has returned to the Nationals and currently has 37 RBIs with a .223 batting average. James Wood, a first-time All-Star, leads the team with 24 home runs and 70 RBIs. CJ Abrams has the team's best batting average at .279, with 13 home runs and 36 RBIs from the leadoff spot as their shortstop. Michael Soroka, a 27-year-old right-handed pitcher, will make his 15th start of the season with a 3-7 record and an ERA of 5.10. Despite his individual performance, the team has lost in each of his last seven starts.

Lodolo to Lead Reds to Victory Over Struggling Nationals

The Cincinnati Reds encountered a setback in their previous game, attributed to a subpar pitching performance. However, the team remains confident in their upcoming game with Lodolo set to take the mound. Lodolo has been a reliable asset for the Reds, contributing to five out of their last six victories. Even in the one loss during this period, Lodolo displayed a commendable effort against the NL East frontrunners, the Phillies. Conversely, the Washington Nationals have faced challenges with Soroka leading the team to defeat in their last seven matches. Soroka's recent performance, where he allowed seven earned runs in four innings against the Red Sox, underscores the Nationals' struggle. Anticipating a rebound, the Reds are favored to secure a win before concluding their series with the Nationals. It is recommended to place your bet on the Reds to emerge victorious in this matchup.

Sources: [ 1 ] [ 2 ]