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

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.