Cincinnati @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2018 ) Cincinnati 0, Washington 0

Mother Nature put a halt to the Washington Nationals' hot stretch, but they hope to pick up right where they left off when they host the Cincinnati Reds in a split doubleheader Saturday. The Nationals took the opener of the four-game series by a 10-4 margin before rain forced Friday night's affair to be called off.

Washington is enjoying its second three-game winning streak in a little over a week as it tries to keep pace with Philadelphia and Atlanta in the National League East. It will try to stay on course behind Gio Gonzalez in the opener and Jeremy Hellickson in the nightcap, as they take on a Cincinnati club that has dropped three in a row. Anthony DeSclafani goes in the matinee for the Reds, followed by Matt Harvey, who will be facing the Nationals for the first time since being traded from the rival Mets earlier in the year. Washington slugger Bryce Harper is 7-for-13 with a home run, three doubles and five RBIs over a four-game stretch and is a career .310 hitter against the Reds.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (4-3, 5.47 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (6-7, 3.78)

DeSclafani allowed three runs over 4 1/3 innings in each of his last two starts and has an ERA of 9.00 over his last three outings. He has allowed 14 home runs over a span of 42 2/3 frames during an eight-start stretch. The 28-year-old gave up four runs across 14 innings through his first four appearances (two starts) at Nationals Park.

Gonzalez had his best start in two months with seven innings of one-run ball at Miami his last time out, although he remained winless over a span of 10 starts. He opened the season with six strong innings and a win at Cincinnati. Joey Votto is 9-for-24 with three home runs against the former first-round pick.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Reds optioned RHP Tyler Mahle to Triple-A Louisville and recalled RHP Jesus Reyes.

2. The Reds have lost eight straight to the Nationals, including all four meetings in 2018.

3. Washington is 19-22 in day games and 36-31 at night.

PREDICTION: Nationals 7, Reds 4