The Cincinnati Reds (47-39) and Washington Nationals (34-51) play the 3rd game of their 4-game set Wednesday night. First pitch from Nationals Park will be at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Season series: Reds lead 2-0

The Reds are on a 3-game win streak have won 6 of their last 7 and own a 1-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Despite having the 4th-worst team ERA in the league (4.94) the Reds are still 8 games above .500 thanks to the major’s 7th-best run total (429).

The Nationals dropped the first 2 games of this series and have lost 3 of their last 4 after winning 5 of 6. Last in the NL East they rank 26th in both runs scored (350) and team ERA (4.77).

Reds at Nationals projected starters

RHP Graham Ashcraft vs. RHP Josiah Gray

Ashcraft (3-6 6.66 ERA) makes his 16th start. He has a 1.59 WHIP 3.8 BB/9 and 7.0 K/9 through 75 2/3 innings.

• 10.38 ERA in June (4 starts) even after allowing just 1 run in 6 2/3 innings in last start a no-decision Reds home win vs. San Diego Padres Friday
• Reds are 2-5 in his last 7 starts

Gray (6-6 3.30 ERA) makes his 18th start. He has a 1.38 WHIP 4.1 BB/9 and 8.1 K/9 through 95 1/3 innings.

• Allowed just 1 earned run in last 2 starts spanning 11 1/3 innings
• Pitched at least 5 innings in each of last 6 starts

Reds at Nationals odds

• Moneyline (ML): Reds -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Nationals +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
• Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Reds -1.5 (+135) | Nationals +1.5 (-160)
• Over/Under (O/U): 9.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)

Reds at Nationals picks and predictions

Prediction

Reds 5 Nationals 3

Moneyline

The Reds have been excellent on the road going 24-18 away from home this season. The Nationals on the other hand have been abysmal at home for whatever reason going 13-29 at Nationals Park.

Gray is the one who complicates this bet a little bit because he has pitched well for Washington but the Reds are simply the better team and have outscored the Nationals 11-6 in the 1st 2 games of this series already.

BET REDS (-120) to win outright.

Run line/Against the spread

It’s a bit risky betting the Reds to cover the run line with Ashcraft on the bump but he was solid in his last start allowing just 1 earned run in 6 2/3 innings. The Nationals have struggled to keep games close when they are on the losing end with 9 of their last 10 losses coming by at least 2 runs.

DIVVY UP 1.5 UNITS between the REDS MONEYLINE120) and the REDS SPREAD-1.5 (+135) however you see fit.

Over/Under

The Over is 1-1 in this series so far but with Gray on the mound for Washington he could limit the damage done by Cincinnati’s potent lineup. Plus if Ashcraft pitches the way he did in his last outing the Reds shouldn’t have much trouble keeping the Nationals in check.

BET UNDER 9.5 (-110).