Nationals turn to All-Star Josiah Gray vs. Reds

The Washington Nationals will look to their All-Star to try and turn around their series against the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

Josiah Gray (6-6, 3.30 ERA), who was named to the National League All-Star team on Sunday, starts for the Nationals, who have dropped the first two games of their four-game set against the Reds.

Traded to Washington along with Keibert Ruiz, Donovan Casey and Gerardo Carrillo in the July 2021 deal that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Gray has become the ace of the staff and the face of the team's rebuild.

Gray had a 5.02 ERA over 28 starts last season and allowed a major-league-high 38 home runs over 148 2/3 innings. Through 17 starts this season, Gray has allowed just 12 homers over 95 1/3 innings. He sits ninth in the NL in ERA.

"We talk about Josiah all the time and what he's done and how much he's matured," manager Dave Martinez said of Gray's All-Star selection, "but this is a big for one of our young players. Proud of him. He's getting better. Every time out there, he's getting better."

Last time out, Gray allowed one run on six hits in six innings during a 2-1 win against the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. Gray, 25, won his only previous start against Cincinnati, giving up two runs in six innings on June 3, 2022.

Right-hander Graham Ashcraft (3-6, 6.66 ERA) will start for the Reds. After going 0-3 with a 16.03 ERA in his first three June starts, he rebounded in his latest outing, allowing one run on three hits in 6 2/3 innings of a no-decision against the San Diego Padres on Friday. He walked two and struck out seven.

"There are just times when you can feel the game going your way, and I felt like today the game itself was going my way," Ashcraft said after that contest. "My ground balls skyrocketed. I'd say it's the most ground balls I've had all year. The swing-and-miss, too, the strikeouts, not walking much until I got a little fatigued there at the end."

Ashcroft was a winner in his only prior start against the Nationals, allowing one run on four hits in seven innings on June 2, 2022.

The Reds beat the Nationals 8-4 in the second game of the series on Tuesday as Jonathan India homered twice and Brett Kennedy was a winner in his return to the majors. Kennedy, who gave up four runs in five-plus innings, hadn't pitched in the big leagues since 2018.

Nick Senzel added a three-run homer for the Reds, who have won six of seven and 18 of 22. Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer had four hits each, and the Reds stole six bases.

"Today was everyone," India said. "It was sick. Our lineup was clicking."

Washington gave up three home runs, and though the Nationals weren't charted with an error, made numerous miscues in the field.

"We've got to play better," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "We came off a (6-3) road trip that we played really, really well. ... Today, the defense wasn't there. We couldn't hold their runners on. They were stealing everywhere. We've got to get better holding runners on. We can't let them just get out there and run."