Nationals at Braves
Ronald Acuña Jr. entered Thursday with just six hits in his previous 47 at-bats, but the Atlanta Braves outfielder broke out in time to help extend his team’s National League East lead to eight games entering Friday’s home matchup with the Washington Nationals. Acuña homered, stole a base and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored as Atlanta captured Thursday’s opener of a critical four-game series with the Nationals 4-2, reducing its magic number to win the East to 15.
Acuña’s offense (his 37th homer, 34th stolen base and NL-leading 112th and 113th runs scored) was more than sufficient for the Braves in the opener, as Max Fried struck out nine with no walks over seven one-hit innings. Atlanta won its seventh consecutive game while extending its home winning streak to 11, and in the past 17 games Braves pitchers are 15-2 with a 2.53 ERA. Washington, which had won 20 of its previous 27 entering the series, has lost back-to-back games for the first time since Aug. 9-10, finishing with only three hits. Center fielder Victor Robles hit a two-run homer in the ninth - his first since Aug. 18 - and has hits in eight of his past 10 contests.
TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Patrick Corbin (11-6, 3.19 ERA) vs. Braves LH Dallas Keuchel (6-5, 3.72)
Corbin has provided exactly what Washington hoped when they signed him in the offseason, as he enters Thursday fourth in the NL in strikeouts (201) and ninth in ERA. The 30-year-old has struck out eight hitters while allowing two earned runs or fewer in four of his past five starts, and across his past 14 outings is 6-1 with a 2.32 ERA and a .209 opponents batting average. Corbin, who gave up three runs on three hits with eight strikeouts in six innings Sunday to earn the victory against Miami, is 1-0 in two starts against Atlanta this season with four runs allowed on 13 hits in 11 innings.
Keuchel experienced up-and-down results through his first 10 starts after signing with Atlanta in early June, but in his past four starts has pitched to a 1.08 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 25 innings. The 31-year-old has won his past three outings, allowing two runs on nine hits with no walks and three strikeouts in six innings Saturday to defeat the Chicago White Sox. Keuchel, who is 3-1 in seven home starts with a 2.38 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, is 0-2 with a 6.10 ERA in two appearances against the Nationals - allowing seven earned runs in 10 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Washington LHP Roenis Elias, who was activated off the injured list (left hamstring strain) Aug. 30, left in the eighth inning Thursday with an injury.
2. Atlanta SS Dansby Swanson is 4-for-29 in eight games since returning from the injured list.
3. Washington 3B Anthony Rendon extended his on-base streak to 21 games with a first-inning single.