Braves at Nationals
A season-opening four-game winning streak has become a distant memory for the Washington Nationals, who are in the midst of a five-game slide as they enter the opener of their three-game set against the visiting Atlanta Braves on Monday. Washington rallied from a pair of two-run deficits on Sunday before falling to the New York Mets 6-5 in 12 innings.
Bryce Harper went 3-for-4 with two-run homer - his major league-leading sixth blast of the season - for the Nationals, who were swept by Mets to start their 10-game homestand with an 0-3 record. Atlanta has won three straight series to begin the season, taking two of three from each opponent after posting a 4-0 victory in Colorado on Sunday. Nick Markakis, Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies continued their strong starts to 2018 as each went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in the triumph. Markakis has hit safely in eight of his nine games, Swanson recorded five multi-hit performances over his first eight contests and Albies notched three over his last five outings.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (0-0, 10.13 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (1-1, 1.64)
Teheran escaped with a no-decision against Washington on Tuesday after being tagged for five runs on six hits - three homers - and three walks in just 2 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old Colombian didn't fare any better in his season debut as he yielded four runs on four hits and three walks over 5 2/3 frames versus Philadelphia on March 29 but also avoided the loss. Teheran has made 19 career starts against the Nationals, going 6-4 with a 4.18 ERA.
After opening the season with six scoreless innings at Cincinnati, Scherzer had some issues in Atlanta on Wednesday. The 33-year-old two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner, who also claimed the prize in 2013, surrendered five runs - two earned - and six hits en route to a loss while needing 110 pitches to get through five frames. Scherzer is just 7-6 with one complete game and a 3.92 ERA in 18 career games (16 starts) against the Braves.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Braves won two of three against the Nationals at home last week, outscoring Washington 20-7 in the victories.
2. Harper has hit more home runs than five major-league teams and the same amount as one other club.
3. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman has hit safely in eight of his nine games this season and went 5-for-10 with a homer and five RBIs in the three contests against Washington last week.