Reds at Nationals
Joey Votto is beginning to earn his massive new paycheck. Brandon Phillips has yet to get started doing the same. The Cincinnati Reds have been handing out a lot of money for a franchise that has had one winning season in the last 11 campaigns, with Votto and Phillips joining Bronson Arroyo, Jay Bruce and Johnny Cueto, who all signed extensions before the 2011 season. The Washington Nationals are no strangers to big checks and are counting on their high-salaried players to lead them to the playoffs.
The Reds had managed a total of two runs in a series against the St. Louis Cardinals before “breaking out” with a 4-3 victory to avoid a sweep in Wednesday’s finale. Votto recorded his first multi-hit game since signing a 10-year extension while Phillips got the day off after agreeing to a six-year pact. The Nationals took two of three from the New York Mets this week, with big-money third baseman Ryan Zimmerman hitting safely in each game.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FSOH (Cincinnati), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Mat Latos (0-1, 7.71 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (0-0, 9.82 ERA)
Latos did not make the best impression on his new team last week, when he was knocked around for four runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings against Miami. The 24-year old was acquired from the San Diego Padres in the offseason and is 3-1 with a 2.19 ERA in four career starts against Washington.
Gonzalez, who was acquired from Oakland over the winter, made an even worse impression on his new team, lasting only 3 2/3 innings while allowing four run at Chicago. He has faced the Reds once in his career, striking put nine and yielding an unearned run over seven innings in 2010.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Washington has not won a home opener since 2007.
2. Phillips (hamstring) is likely out for Thursday’s contest.
3. The Reds took four of six in the series last season but dropped two of three in Washington.