by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Jun 04, 2022
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Venue: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
Where to watch: MASN, Bally Sports Ohio
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Reds -140, Nationals +120
BetMGM: Reds -140, Nationals +115
Caesars: Reds -135, Nationals +115
Season record
Nationals: 19-35
Reds: 18-33
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
Well, that's one way to get Josiah Gray some much-needed run support that he hasn't gotten this season. If your name is Lane Thomas, please take a bow for single-handedly defeating the Cincinnati Reds in a game where I certainly didn't think was going to be the case.
Thomas crushed three homers -- yes, three -- on a night where the Washington Nationals had five, and a four-run third inning propelled the Nationals to an 8-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the second game of this series. The third game is Saturday, and the Nats are having fun at this rate.
Put this into perspective on when you wouldn't think that Thomas could do this: His batting average after a 3-for-5 day with three homers and four RBI? A whopping .211! My man couldn't even hover around a .230, maybe a .240. He had to get that from the basement of .200 to 11 points higher.
“It was awesome,” Thomas said after the game. “Definitely the first time. I’m just glad we got the win.”
I mean, yeah, given that average, you've likely haven't had that kind of night.
“[After hitting three,] you’re just kind of thinking about hitting another one … and then I didn't,” Thomas said. “But it’s all right. I tried.”
He tried. That is the ultimate teammate. Someone who was batting .195 coming in and whose season-high in homers was seven? Yeah, you're on Cloud 9, man.
Look, the Nationals haven't had much to cheer for this year for obvious reasons. This kid going for three, while Juan Soto and Nelson Crus found the power surge one more time, was a great moment. Even if it was against a team that's fighting with them for worst-in-the-league supremacy at this rate.
Getting that kind of win, in that fashion, can give you an ultimate moment to look forward to for the rest of the season.
“[Thomas] was very aggressive [at the plate], which we like,” Martinez added. “He's a fastball hitter. When he gets the ball in the zone, whether it's a fastball or a slider, he hits the ball hard. Tonight was a perfect example.”
The Reds got off to a hot start with a two-run homer from disgruntled fantasy football player Tommy Pham to centerfield. After that came eight unanswered from the Nats. Joey Votto hit a three-run shot in the bottom of the eighth to give the Reds a shot, but alas, nothing came of that. Mike Minor went only four innings, losing to Josiah Gray pitching a solid six innings and striking out nine.
"This wasn’t the way I wanted it to go," said Minor, who threw 60 pitches in his Reds debut. "I was glad to get out there, glad to compete. You’ve got to start somewhere."
Thomas crushed three homers -- yes, three -- on a night where the Washington Nationals had five, and a four-run third inning propelled the Nationals to an 8-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the second game of this series. The third game is Saturday, and the Nats are having fun at this rate.
Put this into perspective on when you wouldn't think that Thomas could do this: His batting average after a 3-for-5 day with three homers and four RBI? A whopping .211! My man couldn't even hover around a .230, maybe a .240. He had to get that from the basement of .200 to 11 points higher.
“It was awesome,” Thomas said after the game. “Definitely the first time. I’m just glad we got the win.”
I mean, yeah, given that average, you've likely haven't had that kind of night.
“[After hitting three,] you’re just kind of thinking about hitting another one … and then I didn't,” Thomas said. “But it’s all right. I tried.”
He tried. That is the ultimate teammate. Someone who was batting .195 coming in and whose season-high in homers was seven? Yeah, you're on Cloud 9, man.
Look, the Nationals haven't had much to cheer for this year for obvious reasons. This kid going for three, while Juan Soto and Nelson Crus found the power surge one more time, was a great moment. Even if it was against a team that's fighting with them for worst-in-the-league supremacy at this rate.
Getting that kind of win, in that fashion, can give you an ultimate moment to look forward to for the rest of the season.
“[Thomas] was very aggressive [at the plate], which we like,” Martinez added. “He's a fastball hitter. When he gets the ball in the zone, whether it's a fastball or a slider, he hits the ball hard. Tonight was a perfect example.”
The Reds got off to a hot start with a two-run homer from disgruntled fantasy football player Tommy Pham to centerfield. After that came eight unanswered from the Nats. Joey Votto hit a three-run shot in the bottom of the eighth to give the Reds a shot, but alas, nothing came of that. Mike Minor went only four innings, losing to Josiah Gray pitching a solid six innings and striking out nine.
"This wasn’t the way I wanted it to go," said Minor, who threw 60 pitches in his Reds debut. "I was glad to get out there, glad to compete. You’ve got to start somewhere."
Prediction
It'll be Erick Fedde and Tyler Mahle facing off on the mound in this one, which should tell you the over is very much in play here. But I think the Reds will not let good ol' Lane Thomas blast three times in this game, and I think Mahle is overdue for a solid start here. Reds win 6-3
Betting trends
Nationals are 5-16 as an underdog between +100 and +150 this season.
Nationals are 15-31 the past three seasons on the road when the line is between +125 and -125.
Reds are 82-64 the past three seasons as a favorite.
Nationals are 15-31 the past three seasons on the road when the line is between +125 and -125.
Reds are 82-64 the past three seasons as a 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 - Erick Fedde
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 - Tyler Mahle
Statistical leaders
Nationals:
Batting average: Josh Bell – .306
Home runs: Juan Soto – 10
RBI: Josh Bell – 29
Wins: Josiah Gray – 5
ERA: Josiah Gray – 4.71
Reds:
Batting average: Kyle Farmer – .263
Home runs: Brandon Drury – 8
RBI: Kyle Farmer – 28
Wins: Six tied – 2
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.
