A brief two-game series in the NL East wraps up on Wednesday as the Atlanta Braves (78-66, 3rd NL East) face off against the Washington Nationals (64-79, 4th NL East). The series began on Tuesday (Note: This article was prepared before Tuesday’s outcome). Atlanta recently played a make-up game against the Cincinnati Reds, suffering a 1-0 defeat at home. Meanwhile, the Nationals just concluded a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, managing to split the games 2-2. Notably, the Nationals have an edge in the season series against the Braves, leading 7-4 this year. The Braves will send Max Fried (3.35 ERA) to the mound, while the Nationals will counter with Jake Irvin (4.28 ERA). The first pitch is scheduled for 6:45 EST at Nationals Park in Washington, DC.
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Braves Face Critical Moment in Standings
With fewer than 20 games remaining in the MLB season, it appears increasingly unlikely that any team will challenge the Philadelphia Phillies for the NL East title. Consequently, the Wild Card spots are now the main focus. The Braves, who recently occupied the final postseason spot, have slipped behind their division rival, the New York Mets. Currently, they find themselves one game out of playoff contention, a situation exacerbated by losing three of their last five games. In their latest outing against Cincinnati, the Braves managed only two hits, resulting in a disappointing 1-0 loss.
While Atlanta’s pitching staff has performed commendably, their offense has faltered. ESPN.com reported Braves manager Brian Snitker’s comments after the game: “We’ve just got to hope we can get a couple of our big guys rolling and get on a run. When you’re having trouble scoring runs and pitching well, there’s no room for error. We’ve just got to keep showing up tomorrow and go 1-0.” Matt Olson accounted for both hits against Cincinnati, boasting 25 home runs and 79 RBIs this season, while batting .233 from the cleanup position. Another player who needs to regain form is Marcell Ozuna. Although he’s having a standout season, he went hitless in two of his last three games. On the season, Ozuna leads the team with 37 home runs and 98 RBIs, holding the 7th best batting average in baseball at .304.
Max Fried is set to make his 26th start for Atlanta. The 30-year-old left-hander holds a 9-8 record, with the team winning two of his last three outings. Fried has a solid ERA of 3.35, which ranks 17th in the MLB, and has accumulated 138 strikeouts against 58 walks, allowing only 12 home runs this year. In his previous start, Fried pitched seven scoreless innings in a victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
Nationals Hold Season Series Advantage
The Washington Nationals have not yet been eliminated from playoff contention, but their chances are dwindling. The only teams trailing the Nationals in the National League standings are the Miami Marlins and the Colorado Rockies, both of whom are already mathematically out of the race. Currently, Washington is 14.5 games behind the final Wild Card spot, making it a matter of time before they fall out of contention. A small consolation for the Nationals is that they have already secured the season series against Atlanta, having won seven games compared to only four losses.
Recently, the Nationals split a series at home against the Pirates. In the final game of that series, CJ Abrams hit a home run in his first at-bat, but Washington ultimately lost 7-3. Abrams has been a bright spot for the Nationals this season, leading the team with 19 home runs and 64 RBIs. Batting leadoff as a shortstop, he holds a .238 batting average. Andres Chaparro has stepped into the designated hitter role, batting third in the lineup and contributing an RBI-double in the last game against Pittsburgh. Over his last four games, Chaparro has driven in seven runs. Another promising player in Washington’s rebuilding effort is 21-year-old James Wood, the left fielder, who has five home runs and 33 RBIs.
Jake Irvin is set to make his 30th start of the season for Washington. The 27-year-old right-hander leads the team in both starts and innings pitched, holding a 9-12 record. However, the team has lost his last three outings. Irvin’s ERA stands at 4.28, with 140 strikeouts and 43 walks, but he has allowed 26 home runs this year. In his last start, he surrendered six runs in just five innings against the Pirates.
Strategic Bets for Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals
These two teams are currently on diverging paths. Atlanta is in urgent need of victories to reclaim its playoff position, while Washington is focusing on developing younger talent for the future. The Braves find themselves just one game behind the Mets for the last playoff spot. Although their pitching has been commendable, they require stronger performances from their key hitters. This matchup against Irvin provides an opportunity for Atlanta to capitalize. Being the leading pitcher for Washington offers little comfort when the team is on track to miss the playoffs, especially after losing the last three games he started. Irvin’s recent struggles have seen him allow a total of 15 runs over his last five starts. In contrast, Fried presents a stronger option for Atlanta. With a lower ERA and significantly fewer home runs allowed, Fried is well-positioned to help the Braves secure a much-needed victory and some revenge against the Nationals.
