Nationals at Reds
The Washington Nationals have been one of the biggest surprises this season despite a recent rough stretch, and strive to stay on track when they open a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. The Nationals lost three straight games, prompting manager Davey Johnson to call a team meeting before Stephen Strasburg struck out 13 in Thursday’s 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Reds have won five of their last seven games.
The series against the Nationals represents Cincinnati’s only home games during a 16-game stretch. The Reds are in second place in the National League Central and trail the St. Louis Cardinals by 3 1/2 games. First baseman Joey Votto has just two homers after belting 29 last season. Washington leads the Atlanta Braves by a half-game in the National League East. The Nationals won three of four games when hosting the Reds from April 12-15. Friday starter Gio Gonzalez threw seven shutout innings of two-hit ball on April 12 and wasn’t involved in the decision.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Mid-Atlantic Sports Network 2 (Washington), Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (3-1, 1.72 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mike Leake (0-4, 5.97 ERA)
Gonzalez has allowed just three runs and 13 hits in 33 innings over his last five starts. He has 41 strikeouts and is limiting opponents to a .156 average. Gonzalez doesn’t have a record in two previous starts against Cincinnati despite allowing just one unearned run and six hits in 14 innings.
Leake has lost three straight starts and opponents are batting .292 against him. He gave up just four hits in seven innings in his last outing against Pittsburgh but two were homers to account for all three runs he allowed. Leake is 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA in five career starts against Washington but gave up five runs in 6 1/3 innings while taking a no-decision on April 15.
WALK-OFFS:
1. The Nationals leads the majors in ERA at 2.64 and also have allowed just 95 total runs.
2. Washington first baseman Adam LaRoche had six RBIs in last month’s four-game series against Cincinnati.
3. Reds third baseman Scott Rolen is hitless in eight career at-bats against Gonzalez.