Washington Nationals (33-43) at Atlanta Braves (44-32)
7:10 PM EST ESPN2
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Starting Pitchers
WAS: S. Strasburg (2-1, 1.78)
ATL: T. Hudson (7-3, 2.54)
The NL-East leading Atlanta Braves will take on last place divisional rivals the Washington Nationals in game one of a three-game series at Turner Field on Monday.
Nat’s pitching phenom and Rookie of the Year candidate Stephen Strasburg will take the mound as he attempts to bounce back from his first major league loss after losing 1-0 to visiting Kansas City. The 21-year old also produced another first picking up his first major-league hit in the game.
Strasburg was definitely more hittable than usual on Wednesday, but he still gave the Nationals every opportunity to win the game. He did not walk a batter and threw 95 pitches–with nine strikeouts — on nine hits over six innings. He broke a 55-year old record held by Herb Score, who fanned 40 in his first four major league starts for Cleveland in 1955, by getting his 41st strikeout in his fourth major league start on the last batter he faced, freezing Scott Podsednik with an 83-mph curveball.
The youngster has done good job, but his two wins have come by way of some of the worst teams in the majors, and his one credited loss too another team well under .500. Now he will face his first quality opponent in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Brave’s rookie of the year candidate Jason Heyward will likely miss Monday’s contest pending an MRI on his sore thumb. The 20-year-old right fielder leads all rookies with 45 RBIs and is second with 11 homers. His decreased production has hurt the Braves, batting .232 over their last 10 games.
However, Atlanta is a major league-best 26-8 at home this season, winning 16 of 18 at Turner Field. The Braves had a seven-game home win streak snapped Sunday with a 10-4 loss to Detroit.
Washington, in the meantime, has dropped 20 of 24 on the road including a recent sweep to the majors’ worst team, the Baltimore Orioles for their fourth straight loss They have dropped 10 of 12, hitting .213 while getting held to 34 runs.
The Braves will try to add to their misery calling on veteran right-hander Tim Hudson. The Atlanta starter had a spot of trouble pitching on Wednesday night against the White Sox, allowing four runs in the ballgame on six hits in seven innings. It was the first time all season he surrendered more than three earned runs. Hudson retired the first 10 batters before walking Omar Vizquel. His is 4-1 with a 1.87 ERA in five starts at Turner Field this year and has won his last seven decisions against the Nats going 8-1 with a 1.62 ERA in 14 career matchups.
The odds makers have the Braves as 1-½ favorites with a run total of 7.
I expect another strong start from Strasburg, but Atlanta will find a way to win this one and the UNDER.
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