Cincinnati @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 8, 2015 ) Cincinnati 0, Washington 0

The Washington Nationals held a three-game lead in the National League East after Jonathan Papelbon’s first save for the club on July 30, but things have not gone as well for the team or its closer since. The Nationals will begin the final week with nothing left for which to play when they host the Cincinnati Reds in the makeup of a July 8 rainout on Monday afternoon.

Papelbon’s 3.04 ERA since joining the team is just one of several problems Washington dealt with in the second half, but a scene in the dugout on Sunday when the veteran closer appeared to attack star Bryce Harper only to be pulled away by teammates and then gave up a go-ahead homer in the ninth marked the low point. Harper, who remains the frontrunner for the NL MVP Award with league highs of 41 home runs and a .336 batting average, flied out in the eighth to end an 0-for-4 afternoon against the Philadelphia Phillies before exchanging words and getting his throat grabbed by the veteran closer. The Reds helped ensure Washington would be eliminated from contention by getting outscored 36-12 in a four-game home sweep against the New York Mets, and have dropped eight in a row to fall into last place in the NL Central. Cincinnati will send lefty Brandon Finnegan to the mound opposite Nationals righty Max Scherzer in the opener.

TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH Brandon Finnegan (4-1, 3.65 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (12-12, 2.98)

Finnegan is making his third straight start after beginning in the bullpen for Cincinnati, which acquired the LSU product from the Kansas City Royals in the Johnny Cueto trade. Finnegan won at Milwaukee on Sep. 18 but was knocked around for six runs on seven hits – three home runs – and a walk in five innings at St. Louis on Wednesday. The LSU product has 15 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings since joining the Reds.

Scherzer is another reason for Washington’s second-half slide at 2-5 with a 4.41 ERA since the All-Star break, and he is coming off a loss to Baltimore on Wednesday despite 12 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old surrendered a pair of home runs in that outing and has yielded 17 in 13 second-half starts. Scherzer was reached for five runs and seven hits – one home run – over 4 2/3 innings in a loss to Cincinnati on July 7.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Red shut down rookie RHP Raisel Iglesias for the rest of the season.

2. Washington INF Yunel Escobar is 0-for-13 in the last three games.

3. Cincinnati claimed OF Tyler Holt off waivers from the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.

PREDICTION: Nationals 6, Reds 5