Washington Nationals: Nats Face New Look Reds in D.C.
The Washington Nationals are glad to be back home after a 5-5 road trip. They will face a familiar foe with different faces.
The Washington Nationals are set to take on the Cincinnati Reds for three games at Nats Park this week. The Nats and Reds played a three-game series ending in early June, in which the Nats won two of three games.
The Reds look a lot different now than they did two months ago after initiating a blockbuster trade with the Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres at the trade deadline.
The Reds acquired SP Trevor Bauer from the Indians at the July 31 trade deadline in exchange for OF Yasiel Puig. The Reds sent top prospect Taylor Trammell to San Diego, and the Padres sent OF Franmil Reyes and prospect Logan Allen to Cleveland as well.
The Nats caught a break when another ace traded at the deadline, Zack Greinke, was traded before the Nats went to Arizona. However, this time, the Nats aren’t so lucky. Bauer is scheduled to start the final game of the series.
There is good news. Bauer is slated to face Stephen Strasburg on Wednesday, setting up an incredible pitching matchup.
Strasburg won’t have to face Puig this week, but when looking at the numbers of Puig’s replacement, Strasburg might want to face Puig instead.
Reds rookie outfielder Aristides Aquino has 34 plate appearances this season and has played in 10 games. Aquino already has seven home runs and 14 runs batted in. He played his first game on August 1 and is slashing .452/.500/1.161. He had a three home-run game against the Chicago Cubs last Saturday, so he’s showing no signs of slowing down.
Outside of Strasburg, the Nats are sending Erick Fedde and Joe Ross to the mound. We wrote about how crucial Fedde and Ross are to the Nats playing well down the stretch. You can view that article by clicking here, or on the box below.
Nats Need Fedde and Ross. dark. Next
The first game of the series starts at 7:05 PM ET tonight, with Fedde taking on Anthony DeSclafani for Cincinnati.