Nationals at Reds
After opening the season with a sweep of the lowly Miami Marlins, the Washington Nationals face a tougher test on Friday when they visit Cincinnati to begin a three-game series against the Reds. Washington stands as the last unbeaten team in the majors after outscoring the Marlins 11-1 in its three wins, while Cincinnati opened by winning two out of three against the Los Angeles Angels in baseball’s first interleague opening series.
Cincinnati left fielder Ryan Ludwick suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder on Opening Day and will miss the next three months, but the Reds have adjusted by inserting Chris Heisey into the starting lineup and installing Brandon Phillips as the team’s cleanup hitter. The Reds will need both to produce in order to keep pace with a Washington lineup led by phenom Bryce Harper, who has six hits in his first 12 at-bats and extended his career-high hitting streak to 12 games on Thursday.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Dan Haren (2012: 12-13, 4.33 ERA) vs. Reds RH Homer Bailey (13-10, 3.68)
Haren signed a one-year deal with Washington after battling hip and back issues last season with the Angels. He had a 6.39 ERA in spring training, but Haren said he’s completely healthy and eager to begin the season. The 32-year-old Haren, who will be debuting for his fifth team, is a combined 0-2 with a 3.18 ERA in his four previous debut outings. Brandon Phillips is 3-for-12 with two homers against Haren, who should be well-rested after making his last spring training start nine days ago.
Bailey is looking to build on a strong 2012 season, when he tossed a no-hitter and established career highs in wins, starts, quality starts, innings pitched and strikeouts. Bailey, who is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in two career starts against Washington, has improved his strikeout-to-walk ratio in each of his six seasons. The 26-year-old Bailey is prone to giving up home runs, so the Nationals’ powerful lineup could present a challenge. He was 1-1 with an 8.64 ERA in six spring training starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Four of the last eight games between the teams have gone into extra innings.
2. Reds LHP Sean Marshall, who missed the opening series because of minor left shoulder fatigue, hopes to return for Friday’s game.
3. The Nationals signed RHP Chris Young to a minor league contract on Thursday, and he’ll report soon to Triple-A Syracuse.