Cincinnati Reds at Washington Nationals Betting Preview
The Cincinnati Reds are at the Washington Nationals for the third game of a four-game series in the nation’s capital. Cincinnati won the first game 3-2 on Monday and then 8-4 on Tuesday.
The two wins pushed the Reds to a season-high eight games over .500. Cincinnati is 47-39 on the season. For Washington, they remain one of the worst teams in all of baseball. The Nationals are 34-51 on the season.
The Reds are once again favorites in this game. You can bet on the Reds at -130 or -1.5 at +125. The Nationals are underdogs at +110 or +1.5 at -145. The total for this game is set at 9.5.
Interesting Pitching Matchup
Youngster Graham Ashcraft will take the start for the Cincinnati Reds. The 25-year-old from Alabama is a lefthander who has struggled this season. He is 3-6 on the season, with a 6.66 earned run average. Ashcraft pitched well in his last start, going 6.2 innings, allowing three hits and a run, just a solo home run. But, over his last five starts, he’s allowed 23 earned runs.
Josiah Gray will take the ball for the Washington Nationals. Gray has thrown 95.1 innings this season and struck out 86 batters. On the season, he is 6-6 with a 3.30 earned run average. Gray has been pretty consistent in his starts this season, and he is coming off a win over the Phillies on June 30th.
Cincinnati Exciting Baseball
The Cincinnati Reds are one of the most exciting teams in all of Major League Baseball. The Reds have seen a spark of life since rookie Elly De La Cruz came to the squad. The rookie had four hits in the Tuesday win. During the season, the rookie is .308 in 104 at-bats.
De La Cruz has three homeruns in those 25 games. Spencer Steer has been solid for the Reds, as he anchors the team with 14 home runs and 51 runs batted in. Jake Fraley also has RBIs for Cincinnati.
Struggles Continue in Washington, D.C.
The Washington Nationals have really struggled at home this season. The Nationals are 13-29 on the season, which is the worst home record in the National League. The Nationals are not doing well, as they have scored the least amount of runs in the National League as well.
The top offensive threat for the Nationals this season has been Lane Thomas. Thomas leads the team in all three major categories, with a .301 batting average, 14 home runs, and 45 runs batted in.
Reds Win Big, Again
Look for the Reds’ offense to keep on keeping on. This lineup is young but full of energy and fun. This is a good Reds team that wants to take down the divisional title.
Look for Cincinnati to spray the baseball all over the field and score a bunch of runs. The over seems like the bet to make in this game. Betting the Reds -130 and the over 9.5 is the way to go on Wednesday.
