Game 59 lineups: Nats at Reds (Rodney inks minors deal)

CINCINNATI - The Nationals have agreed to terms on a minor league deal with veteran reliever Fernando Rodney, who began the season with the A's, according to broadcast reports. Rodney will report to Triple-A Fresno. Craig Mish of FNTSY Sports Radio was first to announce the signing.

Rodney, 42, struggled to an 0-2 record with a 9.42 ERA in 17 games with the A's, but Oakland manager Bob Melvin believes the hurler still has something left in the tank.

"He's still throwing upwards of 95 (mph)," Melvin told NBC Sports Bay Area. "For a guy who's used to a lot of work and likes to work a lot, it was a difficult spot for him and it put us in a little bit of a difficult spot, too. We wish him the best. My guess is he will hook on somewhere and hopefully, he gets to pitch a little bit more. I think there's still a little something left."

The Nationals inked veteran reliever Jonny Venters to a minor league contract learlier this week, with general manager Mike Rizzo searching for ways to improve the bullpen. Venters is at Double-A Harrisburg and has made one appearance May 30, tossing a scoreless inning and allowing a walk. This weekend in Cincinnati, the Nationals bullpen has combined to pitch 10 1/3 innings and allowed only one run.

Today, Nationals ace Max Scherzer (2-5, 3.26 ERA) takes on right-hander Sonny Gray (2-4, 3.54 ERA).

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at CINCINNATI REDS
Where: Great American Ball Park
Gametime: 1:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 76 degrees, 15 percent chance of rain, winds in from center field at 10 mph

NATIONALS (25-33)
SS Trea Turner
RF Gerardo Parra
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
1B Matt Adams
C Kurt Suzuki
2B Brian Dozier
CF Victor Robles
RHP Max Scherzer

REDS (27-31)
CF Nick Senzel
1B Joey Votto
2B Derek Dietrich
LF Jesse Winker
RF Yasiel Puig
3B Josh VanMeter
SS José Iglesias
C Tucker Barnhart
RHP Sonny Gray