The Nationals went into this series with a chance to gain ground in the standings, and the offense has totally sputtered along with poor starting pitching on Friday by Gio Gonzalez and yesterday’s 8th inning loss in the bullpen. Tanner Roark must be the stopper today, and get the Nationals back in the win column.
The most positive offensive production in the first 2 games in Cincinnati came on Friday night by the newbie, Trea Turner, and he got on-base 4 times in 4 plate appearances with a double, 2 singles, and a walk which matched the total hit production on Saturday as the Nats managed as a team to combine for 3 hits. On Saturday, Turner only appeared as a pinch-runner and was stranded at 1st base. It appears that as the Nationals head to Chicago after today’s game, Trea Turner will be sent back to meet his Triple-A Syracuse team.
The Reds are starting Jon Moscot today who returns after he was hit by a pitch in the head in his last start on May 31st and only lasted 2 innings. Only Ben Revere has faced Jon Moscot before in a game.
Here is Tanner Roark‘s stats against the Reds:
Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds
Stadium: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
1st Pitch: 1:10pm EDT
TV: MASN2, FS-0, MLB.tv
Line-ups (subject to change without notice):
- Ben Revere LF
- Michael Taylor CF
- Bryce Harper RF
- Daniel Murphy 2B
- Wilson Ramos C
- Anthony Rendon 3B
- Clint Robinson 1B
- Danny Espinosa SS
- Tanner Roark RHP
