Tony Santillan and the Reds looking to close the gap in the NL Central with a visit from the hapless Nats

Mike Minor will make his Reds debut on Friday night.

Reds starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft vs. Nationals starting pitcher Joan Adon

Reds rookie Graham Ashcraft (1-0 1.69 ERA), fresh off his first major league victory, squares off against fellow rookie Joan Adon (1-6 6.08 ERA) for the Nationals. He may not be missing many bats, but Ashcraft has found a way to retire hitters at the highest level.

Even though he's whiffed only four batters in 10.2 innings, the 24-year-old right-hander has allowed limited traffic on the . Yielding just eight hits and four walks, Ashcraft has avoided beating himself. However, facing a lineup featuring Josh Bell, Nelson Cruz, and Juan Soto will be challenging for the Alabama native making his third career start.

The numbers aren't pretty, but Joan Adon is coming off an excellent outing. Tossing six frames versus the Colorado Rockies, the right-hander did not allow an earned run. Patience will be a virtue for Reds' hitters this evening. Adon has issued 29 free passes in 47 innings and has walked four or more batters in four of his 10 starts.

Reds starting pitcher Mike Minor vs. Nationals starting pitcher Josiah Gray

Emotions will be running high Friday night as Mike Minor (0-0 0.00 ERA) makes his season and Reds debut opposing former Cincinnati farmhand Josiah Gray (5-4 5.08 ERA) of Washington. It hasn't gone smoothly, but Minor is finally ready to toe the rubber for the Cincinnati Reds.

After being acquired for Amir Garrett during spring training, Minor, a former All-Star, almost immediately suffered discomfort in his left shoulder landing him on the shelf for the first two months of the season.

The former seventh overall pick of the 2009 MLB Draft is looking to rebound from a tough 2021 campaign, which saw him go 8-12 with a 5.05 ERA for the Kansas City Royals.

I'm sure Josiah Gray has dreamed of taking the mound at Great American Ball Park, but his path to the Queen City has been a circuitous route. Involved in the blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers that saw Kyle Farmer, Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, and Alex Wood head to Cincinnati, Gray was not done being the key piece in franchise-altering deals.

The second-round pick of the Reds in the 2018 MLB Draft, was sent to DC last July in the deal that brought future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer to the Dodgers. It's safe to assume the 24-year-old right-hander wants to show the Reds exactly what they gave up in December of 2018.

Can the Reds veteran hurlers help Cincinnati get a series win?

Reds starting pitcher Tyler Mahle vs. Nationals starting pitcher Erick Fedde

On the heels of a tremendous outing, Tyler Mahle (2-5 5.53 ERA) takes the mound Saturday afternoon as Erick Fedde (3-4 4.60 ERA) gets the call for Dave Martinez's ball club. It's difficult to be much better than Mahle was in his last start.

Tossing 6.2 innings of one-hit baseball, the Cincinnati right-hander mowed down eight San Francisco Giants in the process. Unfortunately, a bullpen meltdown prevented Mahle from earning a well-deserved third victory of the season.

You don't have to tell Washington what the California native is capable of. In his last three starts versus the Nationals, Mahle has allowed just three earned runs in 16.1 innings of work. Lifetime, he's 3-1 against the Nats in four starts.

This outing can only go better for Erick Fedde. The right-hander was shelled for eight hits and six runs in only 1.1 frames versus the Mets on Memorial Day. Before that performance, the 29-year-old Vegas native had not allowed more than three runs in six consecutive starts.

Reds starting pitcher Luis Castillo vs. Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin

Sunday afternoon's series finale is La Piedra Day as Luis Castillo (2-2 3.38 ERA) faces Patrick Corbin (1-8 6.96 ERA). Castillo turned in his best start of the season earlier this week against the Boston Red Sox.

Surrendering just one hit in six frames, La Piedra fanned 10 batters and looked effortless doing it. In his last two outings, the right-hander has whiffed 16, while only yielding two runs on five hits covering 11 frames. However, he's seeking his first victory versus Washington. Castillo is winless in his previous five attempts when facing the Nationals.

Prior to the 2019 season, the Washington Nationals signed Patrick Corbin to a 6-year $140M deal. If the Nationals issued a warrant for his arrest, it would be within reason because he's robbed them blind.

How bad has the southpaw been since arriving in the nation's capital? Try 26-38 with a 4.74 ERA in 86 starts. Last year, he led the NL in losses (16), earned runs (111), and gopher balls (37). Fast forward to 2022, and he's pacing the senior circuit again in losses (8) and earned runs (42) while surrendering a league-leading 73 hits. And you thought Congress had problems.

Has David Bell found his closer in Reds RHP Tony Santillan?

Reds Country it appears manager David Bell has found his man. After numerous failed opportunities from Art Warren to close games, the Cincinnati Reds skipper has now put his faith in the big Texan, Tony Santillan.

In his last seven appearances, the right-hander has collected three saves. However, he's not exactly looked like the second coming of Mariano Rivera. As a result, his grasp on the closer's role could be tenuous at best.

During those seven games, Santillan has allowed seven hits while issuing five free passes. If you're prone to heart issues, the 25-year-old and former second-round pick is not helping your cause.

Take Tuesday night at Fenway Park, for example. Handed a two-run lead in the ninth inning, Tony Santillan immediately allowed back-to-back hits and eventually a run to score before retiring Trevor Story to end the game stranding the tying run on third base.

Was it pretty? No. Did he get the job done? Yes. And as far as David Bell and Tony Santillan's teammates are concerned, the ugly wins count just as much as the pretty ones.

Prediction: Reds take the series from the Nats

These are two ballclubs moving in opposite directions. The Nationals have dropped three in a row and six of their last 10 games. On the other hand, the Reds have won six of 10 and have not lost a series at home since April.

Those trends hold true as the Redlegs take three of four from Washington before hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks for a four-game set beginning Monday night.