Game 111: Nats at Braves
Foster Griffin takes the mound for another big game tonight in Atlanta. Will it be his last start in a Nationals uniform?
ATLANTA – The Nationals have lost three of their last four, dropping them to the .500 mark and 2 1/2 games out of the wild-card race. Which makes tonight’s game at Truist Park all the more significant, right? Not only are they playing to win and perhaps inch closer to the teams in front of them, but they might be playing to keep Foster Griffin on the team the rest of the season.
Griffin tonight makes his 22nd start of what has been a fantastic season to date. Will it be his last for the Nats? With Monday’s trade deadline looming, so too is Griffin’s fate. Will Paul Toboni deal him over the weekend? Will the left-hander agree to a contract extension? Will nothing happen, making him a lame duck the rest of the way but a key figure in the team’s attempt to make the postseason?
There’s nothing Griffin can do except take the mound tonight and keep doing what he’s been doing all season. The Braves will become the first opponent he’s faced three times, and he’s gone 2-0 with three total runs allowed in 12 innings in the previous two. It seems unlikely familiarity will play any role, good or bad, in tonight’s result. It’s really just about Griffin’s ability to pitch well and keep the Atlanta lineup off-balance with his deep repertoire.
The Nationals really would like to put up better offensive numbers tonight than they did Thursday (and previously against the Blue Jays). Blake Butera noted they seemed to be pressing with runners in scoring position. One or two clutch hits early tonight against Bryce Elder might help take some of the pressure off and set a positive tone.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Truist Park
Gametime: 7:15 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV, FOX 5 (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 88 degrees, wind 3 mph right to left
NATIONALS
DH James Wood
1B Luis García Jr.
RF Dylan Crews
SS CJ Abrams
3B Brady House
LF Daylen Lile
C Harry Ford
2B José Tena
CF Jacob Young
LHP Foster Griffin
BRAVES
RF Ronald Acuña Jr.
DH Drake Baldwin
1B Matt Olson
2B Ozzie Albies
CF Michael Harris II
LF Mauricio Dubón
3B Austin Riley
C Joey Bart
SS Jim Jarvis
RHP Bryce Elder