WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Reds had Friday’s game set up just as they'd hope — the National League’s worst bullpen against the fourth-best bullpen in the league, at least by ERA.
The Nationals had Stephen Strasburg on the mound to start the game and the Reds had a kid making his big-league debut. Both lasted five innings, but in light of how the teams have performed this season, it seemed like a long outing for the Reds starter and a short one for the Nationals.
To boot, the 24-year-old Castillo left the game with a 5-2 lead, by most accounts, he should have picked up the win.