Nationals at Reds
The Washington Nationals have been a huge nemesis for Cincinnati over the past three years, but the Reds turned the tables in the opener of their three-game series. After ending an eight-game losing streak at home versus Washington, Cincinnati will look to post back-to-back wins over the Nationals for the first time since June 3-4, 2016, when the three-game set resumes Saturday afternoon.
Curt Casali went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and four RBIs in Friday's 9-3 romp -- the fourth time in six games the team has scored at least eight runs -- to help the Reds improve to 4-16 in the last 20 versus Washington. Joey Votto returned to the lineup and posted his fifth consecutive multiple-hit game, extending his overall hitting streak to seven contests -- a span in which he raised his batting average from .208 to .253. Juan Soto has hit safely in 14 consecutive games after he homered and doubled as part of a 3-for-4 night for the Nationals, who had won five of their previous six games entering the series. Washington will send right-hander Erick Fedde to the mound to oppose a familiar face in Tanner Roark, who spent his first six seasons with the Nationals before he was traded to the Reds in the offseason.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Washington), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Erick Fedde (1-0, 2.18 ERA) vs. Reds RH Tanner Roark (4-3, 3.20)
After starting the season by making five appearances in relief, Fedde has turned in a pair of solid starts, picking up the win against Miami on Sunday by blanking the Marlins on four hits over five innings. Washington's first-round pick in the 2014 draft, he also went five innings in a no-decision against the New York Mets in his previous turn, giving up one run on four hits. Fedde, who will be facing Cincinnati for the first time, is holding right-handed hitters to a .167 batting average (7-for-42).
Roark halted a two-start losing streak at the Chicago Cubs last time out, registering a season-high nine strikeouts and permitting six hits over five scoreless innings to earn his third road win. It was the 10th time in 11 starts that the 32-year-old has allowed three runs or fewer but also marked the ninth time that he failed to make it through six innings. Left-handed batters are hitting .311 off Roark, who has not found a way to solve Washington's Matt Adams (5-for-9 with homers and six RBIs).
WALK-OFFS
1. Votto is 13-for-22 with seven runs scored over his last five games.
2. Nationals SS Trea Turner is 7-for-14 over his last three games.
3. Cincinnati placed RH Robert Stephenson on the 10-day injured list.