Out to avoid sweep by Nats, Reds hand ball to Brady Singer

The Washington Nationals will go for a sweep of the visiting Cincinnati Reds when they complete their three-game series on Sunday.

After a disastrous 1-7 road trip to Atlanta and Philadelphia, Washington returned home and has taken two from Cincinnati, moving ahead of the Reds in the National League wild-card race in the process.

"We couldn't wait to get home," Nationals manager Blake Butera said. "Going on the road for eight in a row against two really good teams, back-to-back, four-game series, is not easy. And when it's not going your way, you're looking for some support. You're looking for some positivity."

Cincinnati, which brought a four-game winning streak into Washington, will look to right-hander Brady Singer (5-10, 4.67 ERA) to help salvage the finale. The Nationals will counter with a bullpen game kicked off by right-hander Brad Lord (5-2, 3.81).

Singer took a no-decision in his last start, giving up three runs on five hits over six innings against the Athletics on Tuesday. He struck out six and walked three. A free agent at the end of the season, Singer was reportedly on the trading block but remains with Cincinnati and is 2-3 with a 3.72 ERA over his past six starts.

"I'm happy I obviously didn't have to move and I'm here competing with these guys," Singer said after the game.

He faced Washington on May 12 and took the loss, giving up three runs on six hits -- including three home runs -- in 3 2/3 innings of a 10-4 setback. In his career, Singer is 0-2 with a 9.82 ERA in three starts against the Nationals.

Lord has made 28 appearances for the Nationals this season, 27 of them out of the bullpen. He started against the Boston Red Sox on July 1 and pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Lord made one more appearance before going on the 15-day injured list with side tightness.

In his first game back, on Aug. 5, Lord threw a scoreless inning against the Philadelphia Phillies. He will start in place of right-hander Zack Littell, who was designated for assignment when Lord returned. Right-hander Trevor Williams is a possibility to follow Lord.

Lord is 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA in two games (one start) against the Reds. The win came May 12 when he pitched a 2 2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts at Cincinnati as Singer took the loss.

The Nationals took the middle game of the series 8-2 on Saturday. Andres Chaparro drove in three runs with a double and a single, and Abimelec Ortiz had a two-run single as the Nationals handed Cincinnati All-Star Chase Burns his first loss since April.

Chaparro has nine extra-base hits in his last 17 games.

Reds manager Terry Francona lifted his 23-year-old starter during a four-run Washington sixth. Burns threw 96 pitches.

"That's my biggest concern with him right now," Francona said. "At the end of his outing, trying to reach back for more when he's near 100 pitches."

Cincinnati's Eugenio Suarez homered in his second straight game. He has recorded an extra-base hit in his last three games with two homers and a double. Dane Myers singled and has hit safely in nine of his last 11 games.

--Field Level Media