Cincinnati @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 25, 2013 ) Cincinnati 1, Washington 8

The Washington Nationals look to follow up a rare breakout performance with the bats when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday. After scoring just four total runs in their previous four games, the Nationals broke out for 12 hits, five for extra bases, in an 8-1 win in the series opener. Bryce Harper remained the team's one constant at the plate with a homer and a double and Danny Espinosa homered and drove in three runs as Washington got back to .500.

The Reds entered the opener 6-2 against left-handers but were stymied by Nationals southpaw Gio Gonzalez, who allowed Joey Votto's solo homer and nothing else in eight sharp frames. It marked the second straight game that Cincinnati, which entered Thursday ranked second in the National League in runs, scored its one and only run on a solo shot. Thursday marked the opener of a stretch in which the Reds play 19 out of 25 games on the road. They are hitting .221 away from home.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Homer Bailey (1-1, 3.24 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jordan Zimmerman (3-1, 2.67)

Bailey has traditionally been a better pitcher away from home while struggling at times at Great American Ball Park. That has not been the case in 2013. In three starts at home, the righty has a sparkling 0.90 ERA and has fanned 24 in 20 innings. In his one road start on April 10 at St. Louis, Bailey was pounded for seven runs on nine hits, three of which were home runs, in five frames. That marked the first time he has surrendered three homers in a game in a span of 30 starts. Bailey has had similarly poor results in Nationals Park, giving up eight runs on 14 hits in eight innings at Washington.

He doesn't get the notoriety of some of his fellow starters, but Zimmerman remains as reliable as anyone in the Washington rotation. He owns a 3.02 ERA over 62 starts since becoming a full-time member of the staff in 2011. The 26-year-old was a tough-luck loser Sunday at the New York Mets, giving up two runs on just two hits in five innings of a 2-0 setback. Zimmerman is 2-0 with a 1.88 mark in four career starts against the Reds. He has yielded just one run in 12 2/3 innings vs. Cincinnati at home.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds SS Zack Cozart is 1-for-22 in his last six games.

2. Votto is 4-for-8 with a home run and three walks in 11 plate appearances against Zimmerman.

3. Nationals 2B Danny Espinosa is 20-for-66 with three home runs and six doubles in 17 career games against Cincinnati.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Reds 2