The Washington Nationals (14-18) are trying to comeback from a series loss and will take on the Cincinnati Reds (17-15) for a three-game series.
After losing three straight, Washington salvaged what they could against a star-studded Philadelphia squad, winning 4-2 on Thursday. However, things aren’t going to get easier, playing a Cincinnati Reds team that has won six of their last eight. Cincinnati is inching closer and closer to potentially having a division lead in a competitive National League Central, while Washington is fighting to stay out of last place in the National League East.
Washington throughout the season has shown flashes of being a winning ball club with impressive series wins against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and more recently the Baltimore Orioles. A pitching staff led by MacKenzie Gore, pieces of the starting rotation have exceeded expectations. Right-hander Jake Irvin and southpaw Mitchell Parker are consistently putting up quality starts. However, the bullpen has been Washington’s downfall, losing many close games this season. An injury-riddled offense has shown signs of life with James Wood and Nathaniel Lowe playing well. With uncertainty at third base and centerfield, the back half of Washington’s lineup has been disappointing.
Cincinnati started the 2025 on a rough start, starting 3-7 through their first ten games of the season. They are 5-2 in their last seven games, recently dropping a series against division rival St. Louis Cardinals. Cy Young contender Hunter Greene and left-hander Nick Lodolo have been impressive for a questionable rotation heading into 2025. Led by superstar Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati has been competitive, hoping for long-term success.
Game One – Friday, 6:10 EDT
- WAS starter: Mitchell Parker – 3-1, 2.65 ERA, 3.78 FIP, 1.13 WHIP
- CIN starter: Hunter Greene – 3-2, 2.70 ERA, 3.50 FIP, 0.85 WHIP
Before the season, I was asked who I believed the most improved Washington National would be this season and I said Mitchell Parker. I am proud to say that at this point in the season, I am correct. A rotation desperate for starting pitching, Parker has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season, rocking a 2.65 ERA as a ground ball pitcher. Parker struggled in his last start, giving up a season-high six earned runs and five walks. The second-year southpaw should return to his steady, reliable form with a good start to this series.
It’s hard to improve off an All-Star season, and that is what Hunter Greene is doing in 2025. Greene posted a 2.75 ERA in 2024 and is currently rocking a 2.70 ERA proving doubters wrong who said he was due for regression. Early in Greene’s career, Greene suffered with multiple injuries and has since been able to stay on the mound consistently, even with a high-velocity pitch arsenal.
This matchup should be a fun one, due to both starters finding success in completely different ways.
Game Two – Saturday, 6:40 EDT
- WAS starter: Trevor Williams – 1-3, 5.70 ERA, 3.96 FIP, 1.53 WHIP
- CIN starter: Nick Lodolo – 3-2, 2.25, 3.76 FIP, 0.86 WHIP
After a successful short sample size in 2024, Williams resigned from Washington thinking he could build off his success. However, Williams has regressed big-time in 2025. With a 5.70 ERA and coming off a rough start against the Mets, Williams’ time in the Washington starting rotation could come to an end sooner rather than later.
Nick Lodolo is coming off one of the best starts of his career against the Colorado Rockies, going seven innings and allowing two hits with nine strikeouts. This has been Lodolo’s season, rocking a 2.25 ERA, a career-best so far. Lodolo was expected to break out last season, but now this season while being fully healthy and his command is the best it has ever been, Cincinnati has potentially found their one-two punch for the future in Greene and Lodolo.
Game Three – Sunday, 4:10 EDT
- WAS starter: MacKenzie Gore – 2-3, 3.51 ERA, 2.50 FIP, 1.10 WHIP
- CIN starter: Nick Martinez – 1-3, 4.68 ERA, 4.07 FIP, 1.35 WHIP
MacKenzie Gore is on pace for a career season in Washington, proving and showing his ace potential. Gore has been a quality start machine this year and is currently leading all of baseball in total strikeouts with 59. With career highs across the board, Gore has exceeded the high expectations that Nationals fans put on him this past off-season. Even when the biggest question mark is the pitching staff as a whole, Nationals fans are pleased to have MacKenzie Gore on the roster.
Nick Martinez has a very unique story. Playing in Japan from 2018-2021, Martinez came back to the MLB as a reliever and a spot starter for San Diego. However, in 2024, Martinez started the season as a reliever and was then pushed into the starting rotation later in the season and flourished in the new role. Finishing the season with a career-best 3.10 ERA, Martinez was given a full-time starting role for 2025. Even though the command has dropped off since 2024, Martinez still has an incredible story and it’s hard not to root for these kinds of stories.
While approaching a quarter through the season, this is where the team finally figures out who they are and where they stand against the rest of the league. Washington has been a confusing team to this point, struggling to find consistency in the offense and the pitching staff. I believe changes will be made soon, but with an important series against the Reds, some decisions could made sooner rather than later.