Chase Burns win streak snapped by Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds fall 2 spots in standings

0:00 Watching the 9th
10:10 Postgame Show

Craig and Austin will be live in the 9th inning! The Cincinnati Reds face the Washington Nationals on Saturday, August 8, 2026, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., with first pitch set for 6:45 p.m. ET. Highlighted by a marquee pitching matchup between Chase Burns and Andrew Alvarez, the game carries high stakes as Cincinnati looks to bounce back from an opening loss.

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Series Context & Recent Action
The Nationals took the series opener 5-3 on Friday night, fueled by a clutch, bases-clearing home run from Harry Ford and a deep shot by Daylen Lile.

Cincinnati got solo home runs from Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, and Eugenio Suárez, but failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position.

The loss dropped the Reds to 56-58 overall, halting some of their recent momentum.

Washington improved to 57-61, capturing a rare win at home where they have struggled to find consistency this year.

Pitching Matchup
Rookie sensation Chase Burns takes the ball for Cincinnati, boasting a stellar 13-1 record and a 2.35 ERA. Burns has been a powerhouse on the mound, holding opponents to one earned run or fewer in three straight outings.

Washington counters with left-hander Andrew Alvarez, who sits at 2-3 with a 3.94 ERA.

Alvarez has shown mixed results lately, giving up anywhere from one to five earned runs in his previous five appearances.

The Reds' potent lineup, featuring the dynamic bat of Elly De La Cruz, will look to jump on Alvarez early and test a taxed Washington bullpen.

Outlook & Expectations
Oddsmakers have installed the Cincinnati Reds as -140 favorites on the moneyline, heavily backed by Burns' Cy Young-caliber trajectory and exceptional Stuff+ metrics. However, the Nationals proved on Friday that they can exploit defensive miscues and punish mistakes from visiting pitching. With the total line set at 8.5 runs, expect a tight, competitive contest as the Reds try to level the weekend set.