Washington @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 27, 2011 ) Washington 3, Cincinnati 6
THE STORY: It's probably too late, but the surging Cincinnati Reds would like to keep winning long enough to make things interesting. The Reds will go for a three-game sweep of the visiting Washington Nationals on Sunday. The Reds trail the Atlanta Braves by 12 1/2 games in the National League wild card race and the Milwaukee Brewers by 13 in the NL Central.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jordan Zimmermann (8-11, 3.10 ERA) vs. Reds RH Johnny Cueto (9-5, 2.03).
It is expected to be the last start of the season for Zimmermann, who is closing in on his limit of 160 innings pitched. The 25-year-old has alternated wins and losses in his last four starts, most recently allowing two runs over 6 1/3 innings in a 2-0 loss to Arizona on Tuesday. In his only start against the Reds, Zimmermann threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings for the win. Cueto enters with the NL's best ERA (2.03) and opponents' batting average (.203). He struggled with his control Tuesday at Florida, issuing a season-high six walks and allowing three runs over five innings in an 8-6 victory. Cueto shut down the Nationals on Aug. 17, allowing one hit over eight innings in a 2-1 win to improve to 4-2 with a 4.17 ERA in six starts against Washington.
ABOUT THE NATIONALS (62-69): Washington's offense continues to sputter, even as the Nationals find their home run stroke. Wilson Ramos, Jayson Werth and Mike Morse each hit solo home runs Saturday to account for all Washington's scoring. Eight of the Nationals' nine runs during their five-game losing streak have come via home runs. The Nationals have slipped into fourth place in the NL East, and they are only three games clear of last-place Florida.
ABOUT THE REDS (66-66): Cincinnati has won five of six to get back to .500 for the first time since July 6, when it was 44-44. Second baseman Brandon Phillips has hit safely in all 10 games since moving to the leadoff spot Aug. 17. He is 19-for-43 (.442) with 10 RBIs during that span. The Reds hit a season-high three sacrifice flies Saturday.
FINAL PITCH: Nationals first baseman Chris Marrero went 1-for-4 in his major league debut Saturday, but he also made two key errors, including a wild throw that led to three unearned runs in the third inning.