Game 128 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

By Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

August 28, 2022, 10:28am

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A homestand that was supposed to provide the Nationals an opportunity to win some games against fellow non-contenders hasn’t exactly gone as hoped so far. With back-to-back losses to the Reds, the Nats already have dropped this weekend series and now need a victory today just to avoid getting swept.

Which means the pressure’s on Patrick Corbin, and we know how that has typically gone this season. Over his last eight starts, the lefty is 0-7 with a 9.82 ERA. Opponents are hitting .386 with a .441 on-base percentage during this stretch. He’s also trying to avoid becoming the majors’ first 18-game loser since Chris Archer and James Shields in 2016. So there you have it.

You’d like to believe the Nationals lineup could take the pressure off Corbin and score a bunch of runs, but as we all know, that’s just not what this current group does. They’ve totaled 12 runs in their last six games. Since the trade deadline, they’re scoring only 3.3 runs per game, down from 3.8 per game prior to Aug. 2.

CINCINNATI REDS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 87 degrees, wind 9 mph in from right field

NATIONALS
2B César Hernández
RF Joey Meneses
1B Luke Voit
DH Nelson Cruz
LF Lane Thomas
SS CJ Abrams
C Riley Adams
3B Ildemaro Varga
CF Victor Robles

LHP Patrick Corbin

REDS
DH Jonathan India
2B Alejo López
3B Kyle Farmer
1B Donovan Solano
RF Aristides Aquino
LF Stuart Fairchild
C Austin Romine
SS Jose Barrero
CF TJ Friedl

LHP Nick Lodolo