Hot-hitting Donovan Solano leads the slumping Reds into D.C. to battle the Nationals

It may be the City of Brotherly Love, but, apparently, that love is a one-way street. Philadelphia failed to display any kind of affection for the Cincinnati Reds (48-75) as David Bell's group took more punches than Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed combined.

The Phillies swept the four-game set from Cincinnati as the dog days of August continue to take a big bite out of the Reds. After posting a solid 14-12 record in July, the Redlegs have stumbled to an 8-14 mark this month.

If there's any consolation to be had, it's that the Pittsburgh Pirates continue to be even more inept in preventing the Reds from falling to the basement of the National League Central. Nevertheless, Cincinnati trails the first-place St. Louis Cardinals by a whopping 23 games in the division.

Mr. Solano goes to Washington, as the Reds and Nats play a 3-game series in D.C.

This weekend's opponent is all too familiar with the agony of defeat. Even though we have yet to reach September, the Washington Nationals (42-83) have already secured a losing 2022 campaign. Needless to say, the 2019 World Championship season seems light years away for Nats fans.

Since their thrilling seven-game triumph over the Houston Astros in the 2019 Fall Classic, the Nationals have failed to escape the cellar of the National League East. Barring a complete collapse from the Miami Marlins, Washington will finish last for a third consecutive season matching a franchise record streak for futility.

Washington took three of four from Cincinnati during their first meeting at Great American Ball Park in early June. Over the last decade, Nationals Park has been a house of horrors for the Reds. Since 2012, the Reds are 11-20 playing in D.C. and have only captured the season series from the Nats once since the 2016 campaign.