by Chuck Sommers
Friday, Jun 03, 2022
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
Venue: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
Where to watch: MASN, Bally Sports Ohio
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Reds -125, Nationals +105
BetMGM: Reds -125, Nationals +105
Caesars: Reds -130, Nationals +110
Season record
Nationals: 18-35
Reds: 18-32
This has been a weird season to this point as we get through the second month of baseball season. The last 30 days, we've seen Jim Feist rack up plenty of good wins going 48-42-4 over the last 30 days. It's been an unpredictable season so far, but our champion handicappers have been doing well all season. Get on board and join the ride. Catch Jim's plays available right now at the Shop Picks page, where you can find all of the Best Bets from our champion sports handicappers.
Nationals - Reds preview and analysis
The Cincinnati Reds will try to take the first two of this series against the Washington Nationals when they meet in Cincinnati on Friday.
The Reds are coming into this matchup after winning 8-1 on Thursday behind another terrific performance from 24-year-old rookie pitcher Graham Ashcraft. The rookie went seven innings and allowed just four hits.
"I think it's pretty nice when you can go out there and just get the soft contact, and it's right at guys — there's not many balls that they're having to dive for in the hole and make great plays on," Ashcraft said.
"The biggest focus has been on filling up the zone," he added. "Don't try to throw around guys, just attack them and make them hit my best stuff, and I feel like I'm going to beat them every time."
Joey Votto and Kyle Farmer each hit a home run, and the Reds moved to 7-3 in their last 10. So far, the Reds no longer look like the worst team in baseball and things are looking brighter than they did a month ago.
Of course, they still aren’t close to contention, but the NL Central doesn’t look too doom and gloom like it did when the Reds were the cellar dwellers.
"Just a great start," Reds manager David Bell said. "Very efficient. Got through seven innings and still under 95 pitches. It doesn't get much better than what he did tonight."
But the struggle bus for the Nationals continued after Joan Adon allowed just three runs on six hits through 5.1. It might not look too bad, but he’s now 1-9 this season, which is an ultimate microcosm of this season. Part of that was Votto drilling a two-run shot of Adon.
"He's facing a future Hall of Famer there," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of Adon. "He just left the ball out over the plate a little bit. He had a growth moment."
The Nationals are just a sinking ship. And the Reds are not the sinking ship. Some real weird times are happening right now. The Nationals are 10-23 in night games this season, which seems very odd. Take that how you will.
Prediction
I’d rather take the team with the momentum right now. Give me the Reds until they fall off again. I just don’t know if that’s any time soon. Reds win 7-4
Betting trends
Nationals are 15-30 the past three seasons on the road when the line is between +125 and -125.
Nationals are 16-23 against NL Central teams the last three seasons.
Reds are 57-41 the past three seasons as a home favorite.
Projected lineup
Nationals:
Cesar Hernandez (S) 2B
Juan Soto (L) RF
Nelson Cruz (R) DH
Josh Bell (S) 1B
Yadiel Hernandez (L) LF
Maikel Franco (R) 3B
Luis Garcia (L) SS
Riley Adams (R) C
Dee Strange-Gordon (L) CF
SP - Josiah Gray
Reds:
Nick Senzel (R) CF
Brandon Drury (R) 3B
Tyler Stephenson (R) C
Joey Votto (L) 1B
Kyle Farmer (R) SS
Albert Almora Jr. (R) LF
Mike Moustakas (L) DH
Aristides Aquino (R) RF
Matt Reynolds (R) 2B
SP - Mike Minor
Statistical leaders
Nationals:
Batting average: Josh Bell – .304
Hits: Cesar Hernandez – 61
Home runs: Juan Soto – 9
RBI: Josh Bell – 28
Wins: Josiah Gray – 5
Saves: Tanner Rainey – 5
ERA: Josiah Gray – 5.08
Reds:
Batting average: Kyle Farmer – .257
Hits: Kyle Farmer – 38
Home runs: Brandon Drury – 8
RBI: Brandon Drury – 26
Wins: Six tied – 2
Saves: Tony Santillan – 4
ERA: Tyler Mahle – 5.53
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
