Game 43: Nats at Reds

After a six-homer barrage Tuesday night, the Nationals hope to stay hot at the plate in Cincinnati. Plus, an encouraging update on Clayton Beeter.

CINCINNATI – The Nationals exploded for 10 runs Tuesday night, taking full advantage of everything Great American Ball Park has to offer with a season-high six home runs. So, what do they have in store tonight in the second game of the series?

The challenge should be a bit stiffer tonight, because Reds starter Nick Lodolo dominated the Nats the last time he faced them, tossing a four-hit, zero-walk shutout last July in D.C. CJ Abrams, James Wood, Brady House, Luis Garcia Jr. and Jacob Young were all in the lineup that day. The only saving grace: They did beat up Lodolo the last time they faced him here in Cincinnati, scoring seven runs on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Jake Irvin, meanwhile, continues to seek for a level of consistency that just hasn’t been there yet this season. The right-hander enters 1-4 with a 5.22 ERA. He’s allowed two or fewer runs in three of his eight starts to date, but he’s allowed four or more runs in four other starts. He’s recorded an out in the sixth inning only once.

So that’s the setup for tonight’s game. Scroll down below the lineups for an encouraging injury update on Clayton Beeter …

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at CINCINNATI REDS
Where: Great American Ball Park
Gametime: 6:40 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 63 degrees, wind 16 mph out to center

NATIONALS
LF James Wood
1B Curtis Mead
3B Brady House
SS CJ Abrams
CF Jacob Young
DH Daylen Lile
RF Joey Wiemer
2B Nasim Nuñez
C Keibert Ruiz

RHP Jake Irvin

REDS
RF Will Benson
SS Elly De La Cruz
3B Sal Stewart
LF JJ Bleday
1B Spencer Steer
DH Nathaniel Lowe
C Tyler Stephenson
CF TJ Friedl
2B Matt McLain

LHP Nick Lodolo

Photo by Billy Sabatini / ALL-PRO REELS

BEETER CLOSER TO RETURN AFTER REHAB GAME

Clayton Beeter pitched in a game today for the first time since landing on the 15-day IL, starting the Nationals’ rookie-level Florida Complex League game in West Palm Beach. The right-hander faced four batters from the Mets organization, striking out two but surrendering a solo homer to 19-year-old catcher Yovanny Rodriguez.

It was Beeter’s first rehab game since the Nats placed him on the IL on April 26 with right forearm soreness. After an MRI revealed no structural issues, he was able to resume throwing within days and this week traveled to Florida to begin his rehab assignment.

According to manager Blake Butera, Beeter might not need to advance up the minor-league system for more rehab appearances, either continuing to work in FCL games or perhaps rejoining the Nats when they come home this weekend and facing live hitters in a simulated game.

Beeter is already eligible to come off the IL, so the decision will be based strictly on his readiness.

“It kind of depends on how he bounces back from this one,” Butera said. “He hasn’t been down too long, to where we feel like he needs on this long rehab assignment. But it just depends on how he’s feeling … and how he feels about facing hitters.”

Though the loss of the team’s de factor closer felt significant at the time, the Nationals have seen others in their bullpen step up in his absence to stabilize what had been a struggling unit. The relief corps owns a 4.06 ERA and 1.36 WHIP since Beeter went on the IL, down from a 5.22 ERA and 1.49 WHIP before he was injured.

“I know we loved having Beeter when he was healthy, and felt really good about that. When you lose him, it’s a blow,” Butera said. “But to see these guys pick up the slack … all these guys have answered the bell and been put into some tough spots maybe they weren’t before when Clayton was here. But it also helped us learn a lot about those guys and what they can handle.”