Washington @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 25, 2014 ) Washington 4, Cincinnati 1

The Washington Nationals, led by the red-hot Denard Span, look to gain more separation in the National League East when they visit the reeling Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. "He's been great," manager Matt Williams told reporters of his lead-off hitting center fielder, who is 18-for-39 with nine runs scored in his last nine games - including 4-for-5 in each of his last two contests - as first-place Washington has gone 7-2 during that span to increase its lead to 2 1/2 games over Atlanta. At 56-44, the Nationals have the second-best record after 100 games in franchise history, trailing only the 2012 team that was 60-40 en route to winning the division title.

Cincinnati has lost seven straight - it's longest slide since an eight-game skid in 2009 - after Friday's 4-1 loss and its deficit in the National League Central, which was 1 1/2 games, has grown to six. It's just really a mental game," Reds manager Bryan Price told reporters. "When we were going good before the break, nobody was pressing. Now, everybody's pressing. We can't get our offense going because we're not getting a lot of baserunners." Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto, fourth in the majors with a 2.18 ERA, allowed a season-high eight runs against Washington earlier this season and opposes Gio Gonzalez, who struggled in his last outing.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1, MASN (Washington), FSN Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (6-5, 3.74 ERA) vs. Reds RH Johnny Cueto (10-6, 2.18)

Gonzalez received a no-decision after he allowed three runs and four hits while walking three in 3 1/3 innings in Washington's 5-4 victory over Milwaukee on Sunday after his start was pushed back a day because of travel problems returning from the All-Star break. ''Nine days off. It didn't help missing bullpen (session) and doing all that (work),'' the 28-year-old Florida native told reporters. ''Obviously my command and fastball location wasn't where I wanted it to be.'' Gonzalez is 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in four starts against the Reds, striking out 32 in 27 innings while allowing only one homer.

Cueto received a no-decision after allowing two runs and five hits while walking four and striking out seven in five innings of Cincinnati's 3-2 loss at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. The 28-year-old Dominican Republic native leads the NL in batting average against (.184) and innings (148 2/3), and is second in strikeouts (148). Cueto, who is 5-3 with a 4.58 ERA in nine starts against Washington, is 5-2 with a 1.74 ERA in 10 day starts this season, and 7-3, 1.98 in 11 turns at home.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington recorded a double-digit hit total for the eighth straight contest after registering 12 on Friday - the second-longest streak in the majors this season to Milwaukee's nine.

2. The Reds, who are 2-9 since 2B Brandon Phillips left the lineup with a thumb injury, have the highest fielding percentage (.988) and fewest errors (47) in the majors.

3. The Nationals lead the NL with a run differential of plus-74 and are third in the majors behind Oakland and the Los Angeles Angels.

PREDICTION: Reds 3, Nationals 2