Game 119: Reds at Nats

The Nationals look to make it two in a row against Cincinnati, with Andrew Alvarez on the mound

What happens when your trusty reporter takes a night off? The Nationals win for only the second time in their last 10 games! I’m sorry to announce, then, that I’m back to work today after missing Friday night’s 5-3 win over the Reds. Feel free to blame me if they return to their losing ways.

The Nats got strong pitching in Game 1 of this series, beginning with Cade Cavalli (three runs in six innings) but especially with the three relievers (Yovanny Cruz, Orlando Ribalta, Clayton Beeter) who each posted a zero to close out the win with no drama. Can they duplicate that kind of effort tonight? It’s up to Andrew Alvarez to set the tone with a solid start before Blake Butera turns to his relief corps.

Offense may be at a premium, because the Nationals are facing one of the NL’s toughest right-handers in Chase Burns, who enters this game with a 13-1 record, 2.35 ERA, 1.096 WHIP and 137 strikeouts in 118 2/3 innings. He faced the Nats in Cincinnati three months ago and tossed six scoreless innings of two-hit ball, showing off a 100 mph fastball.

CINCINNATI REDS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Chance of storms, 87 degrees, wind 10 mph out to center

REDS
SS Elly De La Cruz
1B Sal Stewart
CF Dane Myers
DH Eugenio Suarez
LF JJ Bleday
2B Matt McLain
C Jose Trevino
RF Noelvi Marte
3B Ke’Bryan Hayes

RHP Chase Burns

NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
1B Abimelec Ortiz
RF Dylan Crews
LF Daylen Lile
C Keibert Ruiz
3B Jorbit Vivas
2B Nasim Nuñez
DH José Tena
CF Jacob Young

LHP Andrew Alvarez