Cincinnati @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 4, 2018 ) Cincinnati 2, Washington 6

The Washington Nationals are beginning to play well again, sparked by a surge in performance from All-Star right fielder Bryce Harper. The Nationals hope to have Harper available when they conclude a tense series against the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.

Washington won seven of its last 10 games and earned a split of a doubleheader on Saturday despite losing Harper in the seventh inning after he was hit in the knee with a pitch in the previous frame. "It's just good to see the team come together," Nationals first baseman Matt Adams, who homered in the 6-2 nightcap win, told reporters. "We've been playing good baseball the last handful of games and we battled today. We wanted to get two, but we battled to get the split, and we'll come back tomorrow ready to go." Reds star Joey Votto was hit with a pitch in the eighth inning - his second hit-by-pitch of the game - leading to some back-and-forth and warnings to both dugouts, capping a long day. Both teams will try to get some length out of the starters on the heels of the doubleheader and Cincinnati will send right-hander Luis Castillo to the mound Sunday opposite Nationals righty Tanner Roark.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Luis Castillo (6-8, 4.98 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Tanner Roark (5-12, 4.37)

Castillo snapped a five-start winless streak by dominating the Philadelphia Phillies last Sunday, scattering four hits and striking out nine over seven scoreless innings. The 25-year-old surrendered three or fewer runs in each of his last five outings and owns 25 strikeouts against four walks in that span. Castillo made his season debut against Washington at home on March 31 and was ripped for six runs on six hits - two homers - over five innings.

Roark fought his way out of a stretch of six consecutive losses with back-to-back wins in last two outings. The 31-year-old yielded a total of one run and seven hits while striking out 18 across 15 total innings against Milwaukee and the New York Mets, receiving a combined 32 runs of support in the process. Roark is seeing Cincinnati for the first time in 2018 and is 2-2 with a 3.73 ERA in seven career starts against the Reds.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (neck) is throwing off flat ground and could throw from a mound soon.

2. Reds OF Scott Schebler (shoulder) returned to the team this weekend but could stay on the disabled list until September.

3. Harper was sore after the game and is day-to-day.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Reds 2