The Washington Nationals host the Cincinnati Reds on July 23 at Nationals Park looking to find some late-July momentum in a season that’s once again leaned heavily on player development rather than postseason contention. The Nationals have played better than expected at times this summer but continue to struggle with consistency both at the plate and on the mound, leaving manager Dave Martinez with the challenge of keeping a young core engaged as the team rides out another rebuilding year. Right-hander Michael Soroka is expected to start, and while his comeback from repeated injuries has been one of the feel-good stories in baseball, the results have been mixed—he’s shown flashes of the elite control and movement that made him an All-Star in Atlanta, but he’s also been vulnerable to giving up big innings early in games. His ability to set the tone in the first two innings may very well dictate how deep he gets into this matchup, particularly against a Cincinnati lineup that thrives on putting early pressure on opposing starters. The Nationals’ bullpen, while improving slightly from last year, remains volatile, with few reliable options in the middle innings outside of closer Kyle Finnegan. Offensively, Washington continues to see growth from CJ Abrams, who has become a table-setter at the top of the order with his speed and improving contact skills, while Lane Thomas and Jesse Winker offer the occasional power needed to keep games close.

However, the club still ranks near the bottom of the league in slugging percentage and home runs, making it difficult to erase deficits once they fall behind. Their approach relies more on stringing hits together and hoping for timely execution, which doesn’t always materialize, especially against tougher bullpens like Cincinnati’s. Defensively, Washington has been cleaner than in past seasons, but lapses in focus and range remain, particularly in the corner outfield and third base. The key for the Nationals will be manufacturing early runs, keeping the game within reach for their bullpen, and capitalizing on any Reds errors or base-on-balls that could set up run-scoring opportunities. While the postseason is not realistically in play for Washington, games like these still serve as measuring sticks for the development of their young roster. Expect Martinez to keep the lineup aggressive on the basepaths, attempting to create scoring chances via small ball and forcing Lodolo into high-stress innings. If the Nationals can play fundamentally sound defense and avoid the early-game struggles that have haunted Soroka, they’ll have a shot to hang around and possibly steal one late with timely hitting. Ultimately, this is a game that could either showcase how far their rebuild has come—or how much further there still is to go.