Nationals at Braves
The Washington Nationals are off to a 4-0 start for the first time and look to continue their strong early-season showing in Tuesday’s middle contest of a three-game set against the host Atlanta Braves. The Nationals, who scored 21 runs in a season-opening sweep at Cincinnati, scored five times in the first two innings Monday en route to an 8-1 victory over the Braves as Bryce Harper continued his opening-week assault on opposing pitchers.
Harper slugged his third homer in two days and drew four walks Monday, driving in three runs and scoring three times as he enters Tuesday hitting .417 through four games. Atlanta, which won two of three against Philadelphia to begin the season, had its hot offense snuffed out in the series opener. Entering the night hitting .325 after scoring 27 runs against the Phillies, the Braves collected just four hits off Washington pitching. Third baseman Ryan Flaherty, signed late in spring training to fill in while Johan Camargo recovers from an oblique injury, finished 1-for-3 in the series opener and is batting .500 through four games with a 1.217 OPS and five runs scored.
TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, MASN 2 (Washington), FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH A.J. Cole (2017: 3-5, 3.81 ERA) vs. Braves RH Julio Teheran (0-0, 6.35)
The pitching-rich Nationals think they have a solid backup in Cole, who overcame a rough August in 2017 to post a 3.00 ERA while going 2-1 in six appearances (three starts) in September. The 26-year-old posted a 4.85 ERA in 13 innings in spring training but struggled with his control, issuing as many walks (seven) as runs allowed. Cole has made two career appearances against the Braves (one start), giving up seven earned runs in four innings.
Teheran, who went 3-10 with a 5.86 ERA and 17 homers allowed in 17 home starts a season ago, pitched marginally better in the season opener at home Thursday against Philadelphia. The 27-year-old surrendered four runs on four hits with three walks and one homer allowed in 5 2/3 innings, getting a no-decision as the Braves rallied late. Teheran did some of his best work last season against the Nationals, going 3-1 with a 3.24 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP in four starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals OF Adam Eaton, the reigning National League player of the week after hitting .615 with two homers, five RBIs and seven runs scored last week, did not play Monday.
2. Atlanta added RHP Anibal Sanchez and C Carlos Perez to the 25-man roster Monday, designating RHP Miguel Socolovich for assignment and placing RHP Josh Ravin (viral infection) on the disabled list.
3. Braves 1B Freddie Freeman tied a franchise record (held by Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews in 1955) with eight walks in the first four games of a season.