The Atlanta Braves figure to be one or two years away from contending, but nonetheless they have a chance to finish their season-opening six-game homestand above .500 with a victory Wednesday in the series finale against the Washington Nationals. The Braves survived another Washington first-inning onslaught in Tuesday’s 13-6 victory, sparked by another outstanding game from first baseman Freddie Freeman to improve to 3-2 in the young season.
Freeman drew two walks to give him 10 through five games - breaking the franchise record of nine set in 1952 for most walks in that span - and clubbed a three-run homer to finish 2-for-3 with three runs scored and four RBIs, raising his average to .400. Washington scored three times in the first inning in Tuesday's defeat, giving the Nationals 11 runs scored in the opening frame through five games, but found itself trailing for the first time this season when Atlanta’s Preston Tucker capped a four-run first with a three-run blast. Right fielder Bryce Harper remains scorching hot, slugging his fourth homer of the season Tuesday to give him a .400 average entering the series finale. Neither starter made it through four innings Tuesday, placing a premium on good outings from the starting pitchers in Wednesday’s afternoon contest.
TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Max Scherzer (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (0-0, 3.60)
The two-time reigning National League Cy Young winner, Scherzer began his season in typical fashion Thursday - collecting 10 strikeouts and pitching six scoreless innings against Cincinnati. The 33-year-old makes his 298th career start Wednesday, and since opening his career 9-15 in two years with Arizona he is 133-60 with a 3.21 ERA since the start of 2010. Scherzer is 7-5 with a 3.94 ERA in 17 career appearances (15 starts) against the Braves, but only went 2-2 with a 4.41 versus Atlanta a season ago.
Foltynewicz allowed two homers in his first start Friday against Philadelphia, but otherwise pitched effectively in allowing two earned runs with one walk and seven strikeouts over five innings. The 26-year-old won 10 games last season but finished tied for sixth in the NL with 13 losses, then did not allow a run in four of his five spring training appearances. Foltynewicz struggled in four starts against Washington last season, going 1-2 with a 6.64 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP in 20 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS1. The Nationals have been outstanding offensively in the first inning through five games, going 9-for-25 with 11 runs scored and 11 RBIs.
2. Atlanta 2B Ozzie Albies, who was 2-for-20 through his first four games, finished 3-for-5 with three runs scored Tuesday.
3. Washington OF Adam Eaton, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, left Tuesday’s game in the sixth inning after noticeably limping while running the bases.