Braves at Nationals
The Washington Nationals are back above .500 and aim to complete a three-game home sweep of the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, after more good work in the first inning offensively and another gem on the mound carried them to a 4-1 victory Tuesday. One night after Max Scherzer authored a complete-game masterpiece in the series opener, Stephen Strasburg fired eight shutout innings and the Nationals offense scored two first-inning runs for the second consecutive game.
The Nationals have scored in the first inning in nine of their first 11 games, and are hitting .377 with 18 runs scored (accounting for 35.3 percent of Washington’s season output of 51) and 10 extra-base hits in the opening frame. Atlanta, which arrived in town leading the majors in runs scored and owning a surprising 6-3 record, did not score until the ninth inning Tuesday after being shut out the night before. Braves hitters are batting .119 in the series with seven hits, three walks and 19 strikeouts, after scoring four or more runs seven times in their first nine games. Second baseman Ozzie Albies finished with two doubles and scored the lone Atlanta run Tuesday, and in his past five games the 21-year-old is hitting .368 with four doubles, two homers and four runs scored.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 3.97 ERA) vs. Nationals RH A.J. Cole (0-1, 24.55)
McCarthy has pitched well in and emerged healthy from his first two appearances with Atlanta. The 34-year-old held Colorado to three runs on five hits over six innings Friday, posting the Braves’ first quality start of the season and following up a two-run, six-hit outing across 5 1/3 innings against Philadelphia on March 31. McCarthy has thrown 64 percent of his pitches for strikes and posted a 1.32 WHIP, but has benefited from 23 runs of support from the Atlanta offense.
Cole has made one appearance this season, an April 3 start in Atlanta that turned ugly in a hurry as the 26-year-old lasted 3 2/3 innings and surrendered 10 runs on 10 hits in a 13-6 loss. The Nationals took advantage of an off day to push back Cole’s next turn in the rotation from Monday to Wednesday. Cole, who went 3-5 with a 3.86 ERA in eight starts a season ago, may be in danger of losing his rotation spot with veteran Jeremy Hellickson continuing to get stretched out in the minor leagues.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta has yet to record a save through 11 games, the longest stretch by any Braves team since saves were first recognized as an official statistic in 1969.
2. Washington RF Bryce Harper, who entered Tuesday leading the majors with 16 walks, did not draw one for just the second time in 11 games.
3. Braves CF Ender Inciarte, who hit .304 a season ago but entered Tuesday as a lifetime .257 hitter in March and April, went 1-for-4 Tuesday to bump his season average to .213.