Washington rookie Brad Lord makes his return to the rotation when the Nationals host the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday in the middle contest of a three-game series.

The 25-year-old right-hander began the season in the bullpen but then made six starts in late April and early May before returning to a relief role.

As a starter, Lord (2-5, 3.46 ERA) is 1-4 with a 4.44 ERA. He has been a reliable presence in an inconsistent bullpen, fashioning a 2.79 ERA over 38 2/3 innings.

Lord replaces Japanese left-hander Shinnosuke Ogasawara, who was called up from the minors on July 6. In two starts — against the Milwaukee Brewers and the Boston Red Sox — he allowed seven runs on 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings and was sent down to Triple-A Rochester on July 12.

Now Lord gets another chance, likely with a 45- to 50-pitch limit on Tuesday.

“I definitely think it will be easier this time around,” Lord said. “I’ve already done it once, so (I will) take what I learned from that into this. It was workload management. Have to increase the volume of throws to get myself built back up.”

Lord will be opposed by rookie right-hander Chase Burns (0-1, 6.19 ERA), the Reds’ top prospect. The 22-year-old will be making his fifth major league start.

In his most recent appearance, against the Colorado Rockies on July 11, Burns gave up two runs on four hits over six innings, striking out 10 while walking three in the best effort of his young career. The two runs came on a homer by Ryan McMahon.

“He was throwing the ball extremely aggressively,” Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said. “He tried a get-me-over curveball for a first pitch to McMahon. It was elevated. Other than that, he was terrific.”

The Reds, who have lost two straight, will look to even the series after falling behind 7-0 early and seeing their comeback fall short in a 10-8 loss on Monday.

Josh Bell doubled and homered for Washington, which amassed 15 hits and eight walks. Brady House and Jacob Young had three hits each, Daylen Lile’s two hits included a three-run triple, and James Wood contributed two doubles.

“Those were good at-bats today,” interim manager Miguel Cairo said. “We didn’t score and just stop. We kept going, and we put good at-bats together. It was beautiful to get 10 runs today.”

Bell is batting .367 (18-for-49) since July 2.

Wood, who snapped an 0-for-20 skid on Sunday, also walked twice, stole a base and scored two runs on Monday.

Washington won an opener for the first time in its past six series. The Nationals have won just three of their past 13 games overall.

Gavin Lux and Noelvi Marte each had two hits and drove in two runs for the Reds on Monday.

Lux is batting .316 (6-for-19) in his past five games. Over his past 11 games, Marti is batting .313 (10-for-32) with three home runs, seven RBIs and six runs.

–Field Level Media