Venue: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
First Pitch: 6:45 PM ET
Watch Live: MASN, Bally Sports Ohio, MLB.TV
Cincinnati is coming off a competitive series against the Mets, while Washington dropped two of three to the Padres and has lost six of its last seven games.
This is the second meeting between the two teams this season. The Nationals won the first series 2–1 in May, outscoring the Reds 16–13 across three games. With both teams looking to rebound, this matchup features two mid-rotation starters and a mix of rising stars and veteran bats.
Starting Pitchers – July 21, 2025
| Team | Pitcher | Record | ERA | WHIP | K/9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reds | Brady Singer (RHP) | 7–7 | 4.32 | 1.35 | 8.3 |
| Nationals | Jake Irvin (RHP) | 7–5 | 4.58 | 1.29 | 6.4 |
- Brady Singer is coming off a solid outing vs. Colorado, where he struck out nine over 6.1 innings. He’s posted seven quality starts this season and has held opponents to a .251 AVG.
- Jake Irvin allowed no earned runs in his last start vs. Milwaukee and has gone five or more innings in four straight outings. He’s 0–1 with a 4.43 ERA in four career starts vs. Cincinnati.
Players to Watch
Cincinnati Reds
- Elly De La Cruz: .280 AVG, 18 HR, 65 RBI; ranks top 30 in MLB in both HR and RBI
- TJ Friedl: .270 AVG, 15 doubles, 9 HR, 46 walks; consistent OBP threat
- Matt McLain: .214 AVG, 11 HR; hitting .364 over his last five games
- Spencer Steer: .251 AVG, 11 HR, 15 doubles; versatile corner infielder
Washington Nationals
- James Wood: .276 AVG, 24 HR, 69 RBI; ranks top 10 in MLB in both HR and RBI
- C.J. Abrams: .287 AVG, 12 HR; team leader in batting average
- Luis García Jr.: .256 AVG, 20 doubles, 7 HR; steady middle infielder
- Josh Bell: .254 AVG, 14 HR; veteran slugger with strong career numbers vs. Cincinnati
Team Comparison – Key Stats
| Category | Reds | Nationals |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Avg | .245 | .244 |
| Slugging % | .397 | .388 |
| Home Runs | 107 (17th MLB) | 97 (22nd MLB) |
| Runs/Game | 4.6 | 4.3 |
| Team ERA | 3.13 | 5.92 (last 10 games) |
| Last 10 Games | 6–4 | 2–8 |
Cincinnati holds the edge in pitching and run production, while Washington’s offense has cooled significantly in July. The Nationals have been outscored by 28 runs over their last 10 games.
Game Odds
Cincinnati Red – 138
Washington Nationals 9
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Sunday, July 20, 2025
