Instead of sending struggling left-hander Mike Minor to the mound to face Washington phenom Stephen Strasburg, Atlanta will get to send out its best pitcher to face Strasburg and the National League East-leading Nationals after a rainout postponed the start of what was scheduled to be a three-game series.
The Braves will skip Minor's turn in the rotation after Friday's rainout, which means Beachy will get a shot to help the Braves get some revenge for last weekend's three-game sweep in Atlanta and pull within a game of Washington.
The Nationals have won five straight meetings dating back to last September, including the sweep last weekend in which they racked up 22 runs.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Peachtree TV, Fox Sports South (Atlanta), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Brandon Beachy (5-3, 1.77 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (5-1, 2.64 ERA)
Since throwing his first career shutout May 17 against Miami, Beachy has lost consecutive starts against the Reds and Nationals but still holds the best ERA in the majors. He walked four and was hurt by two unearned runs in a 7-2 loss to Washington on Sunday, striking out seven and allowing three runs (one earned) in five innings. Beachy is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA in four starts against the Nationals.
After lasting at least six innings in his first seven starts of the season, Strasburg has not gone deeper than the fifth in his last three outings. He has managed to win his last two starts, however, including an 8-4 win at Atlanta on Saturday in which he allowed four runs on six hits over five innings. The brevity of his outing was due to a season-high four walks, which pushed his pitch count to 95 through five innings. Strasburg is 1-2 with a 5.28 ERA in three starts against the Braves.
WALK-OFFS
1. Braves SS Andrelton Simmons is expected to make his major-league debut. Simmons, who was called up from Double-A Mississippi on Thursday, was in the lineup before the rainout Friday.
2. Nationals OF Michael Morse was activated from the disabled list Friday and was in the lineup batting fourth before the rainout. Morse has been out all season with a torn left lat muscle.
3. Braves 2B Dan Uggla has hit Strasburg well, going 6-for-8 with a double, two home runs and seven RBIs against him.