Game 25: Braves at Nats
The Nationals look to keep their offense rolling against Atlanta, which has made a change to its pitching plans for tonight's game
The Nationals enjoyed one of their most-productive nights at the plate Tuesday, scoring 11 runs via 10 hits and 12 walks and ultimately running away from the Braves to even up the series. One more win – either tonight or Thursday afternoon – would secure at minimum a four-game split with the NL East leaders, which would be no small accomplishment.
Atlanta has changed up its pitching plans after burning up a bunch of relievers and throwing a whopping 201 pitches during Tuesday’s loss. Ian Hamilton, who gave up three runs in the seventh, was optioned out and the club promoted right-hander Didier Fuentes from Triple-A. Fuentes will actually start tonight’s game instead of veteran left-hander Martin Perez, so that potentially threw off Blake Butera’s lineup plans for this one. Fuentes, 20, is making his fifth career MLB start; he was roughed up in those previous four last season but pitched extremely well in three starts for Gwinnett with a 2.16 ERA and 0.840 WHIP while striking out 20 batters in 16 2/3 innings.
Zack Littell starts for the Nationals, looking to bounce back from a ragged outing against the Giants in which he gave up eight runs on 11 hits in only four innings. The home run continues to be a problem for the veteran right-hander; he has allowed a league-high seven of them in only 19 innings, and he finally gave up his first non-solo homer to Heliot Ramos in that last start.
ATLANTA BRAVES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Mostly clear, 72 degrees, wind 10 mph out to center
BRAVES
RF Ronald Acuña Jr.
DH Drake Baldwin
1B Matt Olson
3B Austin Riley
2B Ozzie Albies
CF Michael Harris II
SS Mauricio Dubón
LF Mike Yastrzemski
C Jonah Heim
RHP Didier Fuentes
NATIONALS
RF James Wood
1B Luis García Jr.
3B Brady House
SS CJ Abrams
LF Daylen Lile
CF Jacob Young
2B Jorbit Vivas
DH José Tena
C Keibert Ruiz
RHP Zack Littell
It's a splendid, 72-degree Wednesday evening in D.C. as we get underway.
Should be a much bigger crowd than last night. The sun has come out, the weather is beautiful and I know I am not the only one who looked at the forecast and exchanged tickets from last night to tonight.