Cincinnati @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 27, 2013 ) Cincinnati 3, Washington 6

The Washington Nationals have gotten back to doing what they do best - strong starting pitching and a healthy dose of Bryce Harper. The Nationals will be looking to follow that formula to a four-game sweep when they host the Cincinnati Reds in the finale on Sunday. Washington has held the Reds to a total of four runs in the first three games of the series and Harper has five hits, including a pair of home runs.

The Nationals entered the series on a four-game slide and had dropped nine of 12 after a hot start. The pitching began to come around earlier in the week against St. Louis but the offense has finally caught up, led by Harper, in the last three contests. Cincinnati has scored a total of seven runs in its last five games - four losses - but showed some signs of improvement in Saturday’s 6-3 setback. Brandon Phillips broke out of an 0-for-13 drought with three hits and Shin-Soo Choo recorded his first hit of the series with a solo home run.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH Tony Cingrani (1-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Ross Detwiler (1-1, 1.38)

Cingrani has been sharp in his first two major-league starts, striking out 17 in 12 total innings while walking three and allowing three runs. He went seven innings on Tuesday against Chicago but did not factor in the decision. The 23-year-old left-hander has a deceptive delivery and has limited batters to 1-for-23 with runners on base, including 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

Detwiler has been the most consistent member of the Washington staff in the first month and has yet to give up more than two runs in an outing. The 27-year-old allowed a season-high two runs and eight hits in six innings to suffer a loss against St. Louis on Tuesday. Detwiler made his first start of the season at Cincinnati on April 6 and held the Reds to an unearned run on six hits in six innings but did not factor in the decision. He is 0-3 with a 2.48 ERA in five career starts against Cincinnati.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds LF Chris Heisey left in the third inning on Saturday with a strained right hamstring. He is day-to-day.

2. Washington (27) needs three home runs to tie the club record for April.

3. Harper’s nine home runs and 18 RBIs are Nationals franchise records for the month.

PREDICTION: Nationals 5, Reds 3