It appears the Washington Nationals clubhouse woes are behind them after sweeping the Mets in a 2-game series and outscoring them, 30-7. Tonight they welcome the NL Central last place Cincinnati Reds to Nationals Park for a 4-game set. The Nationals ace, Max Scherzer, will take the hill and he has been doing what he does best, deliver. Scherzer is 14-5, with a 2.30 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, and he is a perfect 3-0 in his last 3 turns with a 2.14 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. Now that is nasty stuff. Scherzer last faced the Reds on Opening Day and was lights out, fanning 10 in a 2-0 Washington win. The Reds are expected to counter with Tyler Mahle. Mahle has been struggling. He is 7-8, with a 4.53 ERA, a 1.52 WHIP, and is 0-2 in his last 3 turns with an ERA that soared to 14.00 and a 2.89 WHIP. With the way the Nats are clobbering the ball, that is not good. Cincinnati has lost all 3 meetings with Washington in the 2018 campaign. The Reds are a dismal 3-13 in the last 16 meetings overall and 2-6 in their last 8 trips to Washington. Everything indicates a Nationals win.
TONIGHT’S PICK: WASHINGTON NATIONALS