Washington Nationals vs Atlanta Braves Game Thread

Follow along as the Nationals look to snap their seven game losing streak

The Nationals are looking to turn things around and salvage the series tonight. They’ve continued to struggle on the road and are now staring down the possibility of an eighth straight loss, something that hasn’t happened since July 2022.

Amed Rosario moves up from the 5-hole to bat second in tonight’s lineup, bumping everyone else down a spot. Nathaniel Lowe now takes over the cleanup duties, with Josh Bell remaining in the DH role. Alex Call is back in the lineup, and Dylan Crews will handle center field. Keibert Ruiz gets the night off behind the plate, so Riley Adams steps in for just his second start in the last eight days.

On the mound is lefty Mitchell Parker. He opened the year strong, allowing three runs or fewer in each of his first five starts. But over his last three outings, things have gone sideways. Parker has posted a 10.38 ERA, 2.23 WHIP, and a rough 6:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He’ll look to right the ship tonight against a Braves lineup that’s hit just .203 against left-handed pitching this year, fourth-worst in the league.

Outfielder Alex Verdugo, who had started 12 straight games, is getting a much-needed day off. Eli White will take over in left field and hit leadoff, a move many Braves fans will be happy about.

There’s a slight shakeup in the heart of the order, Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson flip spots from last night, with Ozuna batting third and Olson now hitting cleanup. Catcher Sean Murphy returns to the lineup after a day of rest and will bat fifth. In right field, platoon man Stuart Fairchild gets the start tonight.

On the bump tonight is righty Bryce Elder, he’s been one of the weaker arms in the Braves rotation this year. Coming off his best outing of the season, striking out eight over six innings against Pittsburgh, though he did allow three earned runs and took the loss. Elder enters tonight with a 2–2 record and a 4.97 ERA across seven starts.

Game Info:

Stadium: Truist Park

Time: 7:15

TV: MASN

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7

I’m rooting hard for Mitchell Parker to snap out of the disastrous slump he’s been stuck in. With Atlanta struggling to hit left-handed pitching this year, this might be the night he turns it around. Hopefully, the Nats win and end this rough seven game skid and put it in the rear view mirror with a curly W.