The Cincinnati Reds (20-25) face the Washington Nationals (20-23) in the opening game of a three-game series at Nationals Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm ET.

Key Game Details:

• Nationals are favored at -164 (Reds +138)
• Run line: Reds +1.5
• Over/Under: 7.5 runs

Pitching Matchup:

• Reds: Tyler Mahle (2-2, 4.20 ERA)
• Nationals: Max Scherzer (4-2, 2.24 ERA)

Team Stats:

• Offense: Reds rank 4th (5.11 runs/game), Nationals rank 20th (4.09 runs/game)
• Defense: Nationals rank 16th (4.37 runs allowed/game), Reds rank 30th (5.62 runs allowed/game)

Key Players to Watch: Reds:

• Jesse Winker (.355/.412/.684, 13 HR, 28 RBI)
• Nick Castellanos (.356/.417/.669, 12 HR, 30 RBI)

Nationals:

• Trea Turner (.324/.363/.545, 10 HR, 25 RBI, 8 SB)
• Kyle Schwarber (.313, 2 HR vs Mahle)

Analysis: The Reds' potent offense keeps them competitive, but their league-worst defense is concerning. Mahle needs to bounce back from his last start (7 runs in 2 innings) to give Cincinnati a chance against Scherzer. The Nationals aim to continue their momentum after sweeping the Orioles and close the 2.5-game gap in the tight NL East race.

Both teams remain in playoff contention despite early struggles. The outcome likely depends on which version of Mahle shows up against the Nationals' lineup.

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