Braves at Nationals
Julio Teheran is unbeaten on the road this season but he could be hard-pressed to keep that streak intact when the Atlanta Braves visit the Washington Nationals on Wednesday in the rubber match of a three-game set. After blowing a late lead in the series opener, Washington halted a four-game skid by amassing 10 runs for the second straight night Tuesday in a 10-5 victory.
Ryan Zimmerman returned to the lineup after sitting out three games due to a back injury and went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs to boost his batting average to a major league-leading .372. Although Teheran is 4-0 in six starts away from home, he won his last two decisions on the road despite surrendering a combined five home runs at Cincinnati and the Los Angeles Angels. Teheran was drilled for seven runs in four innings by Washington on April 19 and has been tormented by Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper, who has pelted him to the tune of 15-for-33 with seven homers and 17 RBIs. Opposing Teheran will be right-hander Tanner Roark, who has lost only once in 15 appearances (10 starts) against Atlanta.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (5-4, 5.08 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Tanner Roark (6-3, 3.87)
Teheran finally turned in a solid start at home with six innings of one-run ball in a no-decision against the New York Mets on Friday. He earned the win at Cincinnati on June 4 despite getting pounded for seven runs and 11 hits and beat the Angels on May 29 by allowing three runs on solo homers. Zimmerman has been held in check by Teheran, going 7-for-34 with a pair of home runs.
Roark allowed five runs and a season-worst 11 hits over six innings in a loss to Texas on Friday, snapping his three-start winning streak. He gave up five runs over 21 2/3 innings during his previous three turns, which followed a four-start winless drought. He is 5-1 with a 1.96 ERA versus Atlanta, but has trouble against Ender Inciarte (6-for-11) and Brandon Phillips (4-for-9).
WALK-OFFS
1. Zimmerman tied Vladimir Guerrero for the most home runs in Washington/Montreal franchise history with 234.
2. Atlanta 1B Matt Adams is 5-for-9 with two homers, four RBIs and five runs scored in the series.
3. Nationals CF Michael Taylor is also 5-for-9 with three doubles in the series.