Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

If left-hander MacKenzie Gore could find a way to get his results to match his consistency, he might help the Washington Nationals become a factor in the competitive National League East this season.

Gore is set to make his eighth start of the season for the visiting Nationals on Sunday in the rubber game of their three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Gore (2-3, 3.51 ERA) has pitched exactly six innings in each of his past five outings and six of seven this season. He most recently went six innings without figuring into the decision in a 7-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies last Tuesday.

Gore departed after allowing three runs and five hits.

“The thing about him this year is that he’s matured a lot,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “He understands what he needs to do to get out of jams and mix in his pitches. When he doesn’t have something working, he goes to something else.”

The third overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres, Gore was rated as one of the top six prospects in baseball heading into the 2020 season before it was shut down because of the pandemic.

He made his MLB debut for the Padres in 2022 starting 13 games in 16 appearances. In the following offseason, he was part of the trade with Washington that sent star outfielder Juan Soto to San Diego.

Gore has made four starts in his career against the Reds and is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA.

One of the hottest hitters in the lineup for Cincinnati has been Santiago Espinal.

He went 3-for-4 in an 11-6 loss to the Nationals on Saturday night and is 9-for-15 in his past four games with five RBIs.

Espinal is a natural second baseman, but has been playing left field and third base for Cincinnati.

“We’re very fortunate we have that guy here because it’s very valuable. More valuable than the numbers, and the numbers are good,” Reds manager Terry Francona said.

Nick Martinez is set to start on the mound on Sunday for the Reds.

Martinez (1-3, 4.68) is coming off his best outing of the season last Monday against the St. Louis Cardinals. The right-hander allowed one run and five hits in six innings and earned his first win of the season in the 3-1 victory.

“(The win) feels great,” Martinez said. “Haven’t been able to shut the door on my outings this year and today was a great game for that.”

Martinez tends to keep the ball around the strike zone.

“It’s fun to play defense behind Nick,” Reds second baseman Matt McLain said.

Gore and Martinez were teammates with the San Diego Padres for parts of the 2022 season.

Martinez has made eight appearances against the Nationals in his career, including one start, and is 0-0 with a 3.55 ERA and a save.

—Field Level Media