The Washington Nationals woke up Thursday holding a half-game lead in the National League East and rolling on a six-game winning streak, but now enter the third game of a four-game set at the Atlanta Braves on Saturday well aware that there is competition for the division. The Braves continue to buck expectations by taking the opening two games of the series, using Dansby Swanson’s three-run homer and an exceptional performance from Mike Foltynewicz to win Friday, 4-0.
Atlanta leads the division by 1 ½ games by virtue of the back-to-back wins, holding the Nationals to two runs on seven hits with three walks and 18 strikeouts so far in the series as Foltynewicz fired a two-hitter Friday in his first career complete game. The Nationals got an outstanding performance from Stephen Strasburg on Friday but Atlanta found a way as Swanson clubbed a homer to cap a four-run seventh. Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to 14 games with two hits Friday, and is hitting .362 in his past 38 games. Washington shortstop Trea Turner extended his hitting streak to 13 games Friday by finishing 1-for-4, and is batting .281 during his streak.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Washington), FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (6-2, 2.10 ERA) vs. Braves RH Brandon McCarthy (5-2, 5.02)
Gonzalez continues to provide the steadiness he has delivered since joining the Nationals in 2012, posting a 1.290 WHIP while striking out more hitters per nine innings (8.8) than hits allowed per nine (7.7). The 32-year-old finished 3-0 in five May starts, allowing two earned runs of fewer in each outing and wrapping up the month with six hits allowed in a season-long 7 2/3 shutout innings Monday at Baltimore. Gonzalez makes his first appearance of the season against the Braves, against whom he is 5-11 with a 5.11 ERA in 21 career starts.
McCarthy is happy to put May behind him after posting a 7.46 ERA in going 1-2 in five starts, allowing five or more runs in three of those outings. The 34-year-old escaped with a no-decision in the second game of a doubleheader Monday against the Mets despite surrendering five runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings. McCarthy, who had given up just two runs in his previous two starts after allowing 14 runs across his first two starts of May, gave up one run on four hits in five innings on April 11 in his only appearance this season against the Nationals.
WALK-OFFS1. Washington RF Bryce Harper finished with one hit, a single, and enters Saturday having homered in three of his past six games.
2. Atlanta RF Nick Markakis scored his 1,000th career run Friday and is hitting .332 on the season.
3. The Braves are 24-13 against NL East teams and are 28-10 when hitting at least one homer.