The Cincinnati Reds, currently 17-15 and second in the NL Central, kick off a three-game home series against the Washington Nationals on May 2, 2025, at Great American Ball Park. Game times are Friday at 6:10 PM, Saturday at 6:40 PM, and Sunday at 4:10 PM. The Reds are riding a five-game win streak, bolstered by the return of key players like Matt McLain and Austin Hays from the injured list. Hunter Greene, known for his blazing fastball, is slated to start Friday against Mitchell Parker, setting up an exciting pitching duel. Under new manager Terry Francona, the Reds aim to leverage their young talent, including Elly De La Cruz, to maintain momentum. The Nationals, struggling offensively, present an opportunity for Cincinnati to solidify their playoff push. After this series, the Reds face the Atlanta Braves on the road, making these home games critical. Fans can expect a vibrant atmosphere with the iconic steamboat smokestacks lighting up for home runs. Tickets start at $8.72 on Ticketmaster, and games will air on FanDuel Sports Network. This series is a chance for the Reds to showcase their potential. Austin Mock is a data-driven sports analyst for The Athletic, renowned for his advanced statistical models and simulations that predict outcomes and rate performances across the NFL, college football, MLB, and other sports. A former college baseball player, Mock’s passion for sports statistics began in childhood, evolving into sophisticated projection models using granular data like play-by-play or plate appearance metrics. His work, which started as a hobby in 1999, now informs betting markets and team performance evaluations, offering insights into playoff probabilities and championship odds. Mock’s models, refined through years of tweaks and coding in Python, provide transparent, detailed projections, making his content accessible to both bettors and casual fans. Beyond The Athletic, his analyses appear in The New York Times and Yahoo Sports. While another Austin Mock, a long snapper at Liberty University, exists, the analyst’s focus is on data, not playing. His recent work includes NFL Draft projections and NCAA Tournament betting picks, showcasing his versatility. Mock’s innovative approach, blending storytelling with analytics, has made him a trusted voice in sports journalism, though he avoids clichés, aiming to redefine how sports data is presented.