Nationals at Reds
The Washington Nationals are trying to climb back into the National League East race, but there's a reason why they are closer to the division cellar than first place. Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer will be seeking only his third win of the season as Washington vies for its third straight series win in the rubber match against the host Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon.
The Nationals have won only twice in Scherzer's 12 starts this season but they have dominated the Reds at Great American Ball Park, improving to 9-1 over the past three years with Saturday's 5-2 win. Washington scored all its runs via the long ball as Gerardo Parra clubbed a three-run homer while Matt Adams and Brian Dozier added solo shots in the team's sixth win in eight games. Eugenio Suarez and Derek Dietrich each had a pair of hits in the loss for Cincinnati, which stranded nine runners and grounded into three double plays. Right-hander Sonny Gray, acquired in an offseason trade with the New York Yankees, will oppose Scherzer as he looks to win his third start in a row.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Washington), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (2-5, 3.26 ERA) vs. Reds RH Sonny Gray (2-4, 3.54)
Scherzer registered his seventh consecutive quality start last time out but came away with nothing to show for it after limiting Miami to one run and seven hits over six innings of a no-decision. He also had to settle for a no-decision in his previous turn at the New York Mets despite striking out nine and permitting four hits over six scoreless innings. Dietrich is 8-for-37 with a pair of homers and 14 strikeouts against Scherzer, who won both his starts and had a 1.50 ERA versus the Reds last year.
After going winless in his first nine starts as a member of the National League, Gray recorded his second straight victory with six strong innings versus Pittsburgh on Monday, allowing one run and five hits over seven innings. He was even better in his previous turn at the Milwaukee Brewers, matching his season high with nine strikeouts in six scoreless innings of five-hit ball. Juan Soto is 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs against Gray, who is 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA in six starts at Great American Ball Park this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon has multiple hits in four of his last eight games.
2. Reds 1B Joey Votto was 0-for-4 Saturday, ending his seven-game hitting streak.
3. Soto had his career-high 14-game hitting streak snapped Saturday.