Reds at Nationals
Even with several key core players either injured or otherwise unavailable, the Washington Nationals are proving to be a resilient bunch - one that is unwilling to give up the top wild-card spot in the National League easily. Washington seeks its sixth victory in eight contests on Tuesday, when it continues its three-game home series against the Cincinnati Reds.
Trea Turner belted a three-run homer to pad an early lead in the series opener, and the Nationals ended up needing every last bit of their five-run advantage after seven innings as the bullpen struggled in Monday's 7-6 victory. Washington increased its lead over St. Louis in the wild-card race to one game despite not having the services of Juan Soto, who sat out Monday after spraining his ankle a day earlier, and limiting Brian Dozier (illness) to pinch-hitting duty while the team waits for the returns of Max Scherzer and Ryan Zimmerman from the injured list. Cincinnati was in prime position to make a move in the wild-card race as it trailed the Nationals by only 5 1/2 games entering Monday's action but couldn't get its offense going early enough to avoid falling for the 15th time in 18 games against Washington. Jesse Winker, Phillip Ervin and NL Player of the Week Aristides Aquino each went deep for the Reds, who have belted 10 homers over their last three contests.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), MASN2 (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH Alex Wood (1-0, 5.65 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Joe Ross (2-3, 6.75)
Making only his third start of the season after spending the first half recovering from a back issue, Wood was fortunate to escape with a no-decision Thursday against the Chicago Cubs after surrendering five runs and eight hits over three innings. The 28-year-old native of North Carolina recorded his first win in his only road outing of the season six days earlier, limiting Atlanta to two runs in 6 2/3 frames. Anthony Rendon is 12-for-21 with a homer versus Wood, who is 5-3 with a 2.59 ERA in 12 career starts against Washington.
Ross has been brilliant in three starts this season, improving to 2-1 with a 1.62 ERA as a member of the rotation after allowing three hits and registering five strikeouts over six scoreless innings to get the win Wednesday in San Francisco. The 26-year-old, who entered the season having started in 48 of his 51 career appearances, clearly has been uncomfortable coming out of the bullpen in 2019 as he has gone 0-2 with an 11.17 ERA in 18 relief efforts. Tucker Barnhart is 4-for-4 versus Ross, who owns a 1-0 record and 3.65 ERA in two career starts against Cincinnati.
WALK-OFFS
1. Aquino, who has belted seven homers over his last games.
2. Despite going hitless in four at-bats in the series opener, Rendon still is batting .347 with 30 RBIs over his last 31 contests.
3. Cincinnati claimed INF Freddy Galvis off waivers from Toronto on Monday.