This is the opener of a three-game series in Washington between the Nationals and visiting Cincinnati Reds.
Brady Singer is scheduled to pitch for Cincinnati while Jake Irvin is slated to start for Washington.
Reds at Nationals prediction, preview
Brady Singer only averages 91.6 mph on the fastball, but has been solid with a 4.03 FIP in 100 innings. He’s only allowed 11 home runs and the strikeout rate is 21.4%. The walk rate is elevated at 9.3%, though. Singer has been getting hit hard, as the average exit velocity is 90.7 mph, the barrel rate is 9.9% and the hard hit rate is 43.5%.
Eight of the 11 home runs have come off the bat of lefties. Eight of the 11 home runs have been served up at home.
Singer has allowed more than three earned runs three times. He’s gone at least six innings eight times. This will be his first time facing Washington this season.
Against right-handed pitching, the Nationals have struck out at the 25th-highest rate while having the 23rd-best ISO. The wOBA is 24th-best in MLB.
Jake Irvin averages more on the fastball than Singer, by only .07 mph, but most of the other numbers are worse by a significant degree. The FIP is 5.21 while the ERA is 4.58. The strikeout rate is only 16.8% and he’s allowed 22 home runs in 116 innings. The average exit velocity is 90.6 mph, the barrel rate is 12.7% and the hard hit rate is 47.2%. The swinging strike rate is a paltry 7.4% while the chase rate is 25.6%. Pretty gross.
Lefties have clubbed 13 of the 22 home runs while 14 have been hit on the road. The K-BB% is only 8.3% against lefties. Most of the advanced stats are better on the road, but the home runs negate most of them.
The Reds have struck out at the sixth-highest rate against right-handed pitching while being 13th in ISO. The wOBA is 12th-best.
As for bullpens, Cincinnati has the 26th-lowest FIP while Washington has the 30th-lowest.
Reds at Nationals pick, best bet
Digging into both pitchers makes me queasy. I also had the urge to stack against both! But, but, but….I actually think neither gets blown up, which had me looking at the under, but then I remembered that both bullpens aren’t good and now I’m throwing my hands in the air. Give me the home dogs on the moneyline.
