Cincinnati @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2018 ) Cincinnati 7, Washington 1

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 four 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: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Matt Harvey (5-6, 5.13 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Jeremy Hellickson (4-2, 3.59)

Harvey bounced back from a dismal outing two turns ago to limit the Philadelphia Phillies to two runs and two hits over five innings last Saturday. He failed to get as far as six innings in each of his five starts in July, although he held opponents to two earned runs or fewer four times. The 29-year-old has done well with Harper (5-for-32, seven strikeouts) and he owns a 3.38 ERA in 16 career matchups (15 starts) with Washington.

Hellickson is 2-2 with a 5.52 ERA in six starts since returning from a hamstring injury, completing six frames just once in that span. He took his first loss since June 30 last time out after giving up five runs (three earned) over 4 2/3 innings at Miami. Hellickson boasts a 1.50 ERA in four career starts against the Reds and has dominated Cincinnati's All-Star first baseman Joey Votto (0-for-12, five strikeouts).

WALK-OFFS

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

2. Cincinnati has 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 6, Reds 4