Nationals at Braves
The Washington Nationals have chased the National League East lead all summer, and now they get their chance to draw closer when they open a four-game series Thursday at the division-leading Atlanta Braves. The first-place Braves and second-place Nationals play seven times in the next 11 days, and even though Washington has baseball’s best record since May 24 (59-29), they remain seven games back as the Braves have played just as well since that date (58-31).
The Nationals missed an opportunity Wednesday to gain ground on idle Atlanta by losing for just the seventh time in the past 27 games, falling 8-4 at home to the Mets despite two hits and two RBIs from third baseman Anthony Rendon. The 29-year-old's team-record 114 RBIs this season is tied for the most in the majors, and in his past 24 games Rendon is batting .430 with nine doubles, eight homers and 27 RBIs. The Braves enter the series riding a six-game winning streak after Tuesday’s 7-2 victory over Toronto, have won their past 10 home games, and are 17-4 since Aug. 11. First baseman Freddie Freeman is tied with Rendon for most RBIs in the majors, has set career highs in RBIs and homers (38), and during Atlanta’s six-game winning streak is 9-for-22 with three doubles, three homers and nine RBIs.
TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, MLB Network, MASN (Washington), FS Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (16-5, 3.47 ERA) vs. Braves LH Max Fried (15-4, 4.05)
Strasburg is putting together one of the best seasons of his career, leading the NL in wins and innings pitched (179), while ranking second in strikeouts (215) and sixth in WHIP (1.04). The 31-year-old has lost just once in his past 13 starts with 100 strikeouts in 83 innings, including a 14-strikeout performance with two hits allowed over eight shutout innings Saturday against Miami. Strasburg is 3-0 with a 3.93 ERA in three starts against the Braves this season, striking out 23 with 18 hits surrendered over 18 1/3 innings.
Fried has emerged in his first full season in the major-league rotation, trailing only Strasburg in wins in the NL by going 6-0 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in eight starts since the All-Star break. The 25-year-old went 4-0 in six August starts, allowing three earned runs or fewer five times and finishing the month by striking out 11 while allowing three earned runs on four hits over six innings Friday against the Chicago White Sox. Fried lost his only start against the Nationals this season, allowing four runs on nine hits with five strikeouts across 5 2/3 innings on May 28.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington OF Juan Soto is hitting .422 with seven doubles, four homers and 15 RBIs in his past 11 games, with at least one hit in eight of those contests.
2. Atlanta 3B Josh Donaldson has hit 26 homers since June 11, and became the 13th player in franchise history Tuesday to record 30 homers and 30 doubles in a single season.
3. The season series is tied 6-6, but the Braves have won six of the past nine matchups.