The Cincinnati Reds wrap up their road series against the Washington Nationals on Sunday, August 9 at Nationals Park, with first pitch scheduled for 12:15 PM ET. Brady Singer toes the rubber for Cincinnati against Washington's Brad Lord in what shapes up as a battle of two pitchers the Reds will need a strong outing from to close out the trip on the right side of the ledger. Catch every pitch on WLW 700 AM in Cincinnati or on Peacock/NBCSN on the television side.

Pitching Matchup: Brady Singer vs. Brad Lord

Brady Singer gets the ball for the Reds in the series finale. Singer has been one of Cincinnati's rotation cornerstones, and his performance Sunday will set the tone for how this trip ends. The Reds need him to eat innings and keep Washington's lineup honest early.

Opposing him is Brad Lord for the Nationals. Lord is a name worth watching — Washington has leaned on younger arms throughout this season, and Lord fits that profile. The Reds' lineup will need to do its homework on a pitcher who doesn't come with a deep scouting file at the major league level.

Reds Lineup to Watch at Nationals Park

Manager's card for Cincinnati has Elly De La Cruz leading off at shortstop, which is exactly where you want the most electrifying player in the organization when you're looking to set the table early. Sal Stewart slots in at first base batting second, followed by JJ Bleday in left field hitting third. Tyler Stephenson anchors the cleanup spot behind the plate — a vote of confidence in his ability to drive in runs against a less-established starter.

• Elly De La Cruz (SS) — Leadoff. The engine of this offense. If he gets on base, things happen fast.
• Sal Stewart (1B) — The young first baseman continues to get high-leverage at-bats in the two hole.
• JJ Bleday (LF) — Hitting third, Bleday gives the Reds a lefty bat to work against Lord.
• Tyler Stephenson (C) — Cleanup. Stephenson's presence in that spot signals the Reds expect him to do damage.
• Eugenio Suárez (DH) — The veteran designated hitter brings postseason-tested experience to the middle of the order.
• Matt McLain (2B) — Batting eighth after battling through injury concerns this season. His health and productivity matter down the stretch.
• Ke'Bryan Hayes (3B) — Hits ninth, giving the Reds a contact-oriented hitter who can turn the lineup over.

Keys to the Game

• Singer's command early: If Singer establishes his fastball and works ahead in counts, he can neutralize a Nationals lineup that includes CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews, and Keibert Ruiz. Getting deep into the game matters for Cincinnati's bullpen health.
• Capitalizing against an unfamiliar arm: Brad Lord doesn't carry the name recognition of a frontline starter, which means the Reds' lineup needs to be disciplined, work counts, and punish mistakes. De La Cruz, Stephenson, and Suárez are the hitters to watch in that regard.
• Héctor Rodríguez and Dane Myers: The Reds' young outfielders batting sixth and seventh need to contribute. Getting production from the bottom third of the lineup against a starter they haven't seen much of is a real opportunity.

Prediction

This is a winnable game for Cincinnati. Brady Singer in a day game against a Washington starter without a deep major league track record is a favorable setup on paper. The Reds' lineup has enough firepower — particularly from De La Cruz, Stephenson, and Suárez — to generate early offense. Singer needs to be sharp, but if he is, the Reds take the series finale and head home with momentum. Reds 5, Nationals 2.