Reds vs. Nationals: Pitching preview, prediction, and more

Trea Turner leads a potent DC offense against the Reds.

What doesn’t Trea Turner do for the Washington Nationals? The 28-year-old is slashing .324/.363/.545 with a team-leading 10 home runs and 25 RBIs. In addition, his eight stolen bases also leads the club.

As play begins today, Washington is setting the pace in the senior circuit with a .258 team batting average. Currently, the Nats have four regulars hitting .282 or better. Two new faces for the Nationals will look very familiar to Cincinnati fans.

Former Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star first baseman Josh Bell has taken his talents to D.C. At the same time, Middletown, Ohio native Kyle Schwarber occupies left field after spending the previous six seasons with the Chicago Cubs.

Washington has long relied on the strength of their starting pitching for their success, but the rotation has been uncharacteristically erratic to begin the 2021 season. Nationals’ starters have compiled a 4.47 ERA, placing them 10th among all starting staffs in the NL.

One area of concern for the Nats starting rotation has been their inability to consistently throw strikes. Their 86 free passes on the season are the fifth most in the league. Southpaw Patrick Corbin is having a challenging season. The left-hander has allowed 73 hitters to reach base via a hit or walk in only 47 innings.

It would be in the Reds’ best interest to get to the Nationals’ starters because their bullpen is stingy with baserunners. The Nats bullpen WHIP of 1.24 is tied for the third-best mark in the NL.  Daniel Hudson has been nothing but nasty for the Nationals.

The right-hander has allowed just two runs and six hits in 17 innings while recording 22 strikeouts.  Closer Brad Hand has seven saves in nine opportunities and has punched out 19 in 17.1 frames for the Nats vaunted relief corps.