Cincinnati vs. Washington - the game suddenly everyone cares about LOL

Take it from someone who's followed the natty Nats closer than most - you do NOT want to put your trust in this team when they're off a loss where they blew a lead, even if that lead was as seemingly insignificant as 1-0.  Also, you should want to consider fading the Nationals, not taking them, the day after they lose a game wher they were either tied or leading from the start of the 7th inning onward.  Well, last night, the Nats were guilty of both sins.  They grabbed a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st (just as they had the night before) but gave it back right away in the bottom of the 1st.  The game stayed 2-1 until the top of the 7th, when Washington tied it up on a two-out RBI single.  But the Braves immediately reassumed the lead with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning before putting the Nats away for good with three more runs in the bottom of the 8th. 

 

The Nationals traveled to Atlanta as a confident team, carrying their 8-game winning streak which had featured numerous comebacks and no fatal blown leads.  But now, after two blowout losses to the Braves in which they squandered a good start in each game, they're heading to Cincinnati with their heads possibly hanging once again.  And it doesn't help that the opponent has changed from yesterday to today, or that the opponent is the sputtering Reds instead of the surging Braves. 

 

The Reds aren't shit, that's a fact, but you've got to feel that they're ready to welcome some beatable opposition to the Great American Ballpark.  Over the last two weeks, Cincinnati has had to deal with solid wining teams in the Rockies, Cubs, Giants, and Cardinals.  Not surprisingly, things didn't go well.  The visit by the Nationals, their winning streak now history, has to be a welcome relief.  In addition (and I'm just speculating here), the Reds might feel like they owe the fans tonight an honest effort and a winning performance in the wake of their recent unbelievably pathetic 1-8 homestand.  If I'm playing for the Reds tonight, I'm still embarrased by that and the LAST thing I want to do is pick up where we left off by losing again at home to the last place Washington Nationals.  Ugh!

 

Bronson Arroyo has turned in quality starts in 5 of his last 6 outings, so I have no worries about trusting him.  As for tonight's very green Nats starter, 23-year old Collin Balester - let's just say that last week's glorious winning streak was kept alive in spite of him.

 

I'm laying -142 with the Reds.  It's one bad team vs. another, but the home team is hungry for someone they can handle as well as eager to atone for the recent horrid homestand, while the road team is possibly sagging again after a glorious winning streak that no one (ahem, well almost no one) expected.  I think it's a solid play.