Brady Singer did his part again, and the Reds still walked away empty.
That has become the frustrating thread running through Cincinnati’s weekend in Washington. Singer turned in another quality start Aug. 9, but the offense never gave him much support in a 7-1 loss to the Nationals at Nationals Park, and the series ended with Cincinnati getting swept.
Singer allowed three runs on eight hits, enough to keep the game within reach for a while. It wasn’t a dominant outing, and Terry Francona said as much afterward, but it was still the kind of start the Reds have come to count on from the right-hander.
“I didn't think he had his best slider today, and early on, even his velocity looked like it was down a couple ticks early,” Francona said. “But kind of like Brady, you look up after six and he battled and fought and scratched and gave up three, and gave us a chance. I'm saying that as a compliment because I didn't think he had his best stuff today.”
That reliability has been a defining trait for Singer, especially after a first half in 2026 that was interrupted by physical issues. He had been dealing with the lingering effects of a finger blister and the pain that came after being hit by batted balls. One of those hits came on May 12 against the Nationals, when the swelling was obvious enough that Singer had to address it after the game because he could not put weight on his right foot.
Even then, he kept taking the ball. Five days later, he was back on the mound.
“He takes so much pride in posting that there was never an issue,” Francona said. “Some guys, you just kind of − when I say 'don't worry' it doesn't mean you don't care − you just know they're gonna figure it out.
That's just who he is. It's good.
“He was a little beat up for a while but he takes an immense amount of pride in posting − being accountable.”
Lately, the results have followed the routine. Entering the game, Singer had a 3.53 ERA and six quality starts in his last 10 outings.
That surge had even led some to wonder whether he could become a trade piece at the deadline. Instead, Cincinnati held onto him, and if the Reds offer him a qualifying offer in the offseason and he accepts, he could stay in place.
For a pitching staff full of younger arms, Singer’s example matters. Francona said it would matter no matter the age mix, but the Reds do have several pitchers still trying to make it through a full season.
Chase Burns is 23, Hunter Greene’s 2027 season could be in jeopardy when he undergoes elbow surgery next week, and neither Andrew Abbott nor Nick Lodolo has yet built a track record of durable, year-long workloads. Abbott made 29 starts in 2025, while Lodolo made 28 starts and 29 appearances.
Singer gave Cincinnati a chance. The bats didn’t hold up their end.
The Reds managed just six runs across the series and finished with 16 hits and six walks. On Aug.
9, Dane Myers brought in Cincinnati’s only run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning. It was the Reds’ only lead of the entire series, and it disappeared almost immediately when Washington answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Cincinnati’s top three hitters - Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart and JJ Bleday - combined to go 2-for-12 in the finale and 5-for-33 in the series with three walks. Francona pointed to the approach as the game slipped away.
“That's a tough ask because they're not gonna hit every game. That's just the way it is,” Francona said.
“When they don't, it get a little more glaring. They had a bullpen day today and I thought we kind of started chasing.
Trying to hit everything... Instead of being stubborn enough to sit on something, we tried to hit everything and kind of played into their hand.”
After Singer left, Washington added on. Brock Burke allowed one run and Tejay Antone gave up three more as the Nationals pulled away.
The loss carried more than one sting for Cincinnati. The Reds entered the series ahead of Washington in the National League wild card race, but left Nationals Park 1.5 games behind the Nationals. They also dropped back into last place in the NL Central.
“You go through stretches, obviously, like this, or bad series like this,” Singer said. “We'll just keep pushing. Take the off day (Aug. 10), enjoy it and get back after it against the White Sox.”
That next chance comes in Chicago, where the Reds open a three-game series against the White Sox at Rate Field on Aug. 11-13.
Lodolo is set to return from the injured list in the opener, with Rhett Lowder scheduled for the middle game and Andrew Abbott set for the matinee finale. The White Sox had not announced their starters as of Aug.
Chicago enters the series at 60-56 and leading the American League Central, with a 35-22 record at Rate Field in 2026.
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