Monday, April 29, 2013

Series Preview: Washington Nationals (13-12) at Atlanta Braves (15-9)

Pitching Probables:
Mon - Stephen Strasburg (WSH) 1-4, 3.16 ERA vs. Julio Teheran (ATL) 1-0, 5.48 ERA
Tue - Gio Gonzalez (WSH) 2-1, 4.50 ERA vs. Tim Hudson (ATL) 2-1, 4.50 ERA
Wed - Jordan Zimmermann (WSH) 4-1, 2.00 ERA vs. Paul Maholm (ATL) 3-2, 3.30 ERA
Thurs - Dan Haren (WSH) 2-3, 6.29 ERA vs. Kris Medlen (ATL) 1-3, 3.26 ERA

Comparison by Position
C:
Kurt Suzuki (WSH) .241/.354/.463 2 HR 6 RBI
Wilson Ramos (WSH) .300/.391/.600 2 HR 3 RBI
Evan Gattis (ATL) .236/.291/.556 6 HR 14 RBI
Gerald Laird (ATL) .320/.393/.400 0 HR 4 RBI
1B:
Adam LaRoche (WSH) .135/.210/.270 3 HR 8 RBI
Freddie Freeman (ATL) .282/.378/.410 1 HR 9 RBI
2B:
Danny Espinosa (WSH) .178/.221/.356 2 HR 6 RBI
Dan Uggla (ATL) .160/.292/.333 4 HR 8 RBI
3B:
Anthony Rendon (WSH) .200/.304/.250 0 HR 1 RBI
Chris Johnson (ATL) .387/.410/.547 2 HR 8 RBI
Juan Francisco (ATL) .302/.333/.508 4 HR 11 RBI
SS:
Ian Desmond (WSH) .295/.313/.516 3 HR 8 RBI
Andrelton Simmons (ATL) .228/.295/.291 1 HR 7 RBI
LF:
Bryce Harper (WSH) .360/.444/.756 9 HR 18 RBI
Justin Upton (ATL) .307/.398/.773 12 HR 18 RBI
CF:
Denard Span (WSH) .278/.356/.322 0 HR 9 RBI
BJ Upton (ATL) .151/.229/.291 3 HR 5 RBI
RF:
Jayson Werth (WSH) .266/.317/.415 4 HR 10 RBI
Reed Johnson (ATL) .222/.276/.370 0 HR 0 RBI
Jordan Schafer (ATL) .320/.414/.360 0 HR 2 RBI

Preview:
The first time these two teams met this season back on April 12-14, Braves earned an impressive three-game sweep of the defending NL East Champs, but the Nats were not impressed by any means. After the sweep, Danny Espinosa believes his Nationals team is still the superior team. The Washington Post quoted Espinosa as saying, "They have come back on people. They are playing well. It doesn't last forever. So I'm not worried about it. I'm going to be real confident the next 16 games."
The first of those remaining 16 games comes on Monday night, when the Nationals begin a four-game series with the Braves at Turner Field. Pitching matchup Monday night will feature Nationals' ace Stephen Strasburg and Braves' Julio Teheran.
The Braves sweep of the Nationals two weeks ago was part of their 10-game winning streak, but has cooled off considerably since, losing seven of their last ten ballgames which includes being swept by the Tigers this past weekend in Detroit. Braves concluded a stretch of 16 of 18 games on the road in which they went 10-8. Nationals recently came out of their rough spell by taking 3 of 4 in the series against the Reds this past weekend in DC.
Stephen Strasburg (1-4, 3.16 ERA) will attempt to snap his four game losing streak. While his ERA is good, he has had almost no run support through five starts this season. In his last start against the Cardinals, he allowed three runs (all in the 1st inning) on five hits, walked a batter, and struck out seven as he took the loss and the Nats were swept by the Cardinals in the series. Stephen Strasburg owns a staggering 10.80 ERA in the 1st inning this season. Strasburg took a loss against the Braves on April 13th, allowing two unearned runs on five hits over six innings.
Julio Teheran (1-0, 5.48 ERA) earned his first win of 2013 in his previous outing against the Rockies, allowing a run on eight hits over seven strong innings. He battled nicely through the frigid conditions at Coors Field. Teheran has faced the Nationals this season, but earned a no decision as he gave up four runs on six hits in six innings as the Braves came back and won the game in 10 innings, 6-4.

Simmons starting to heat up:
Andrelton Simmons struggled in his first 15 games this season, hitting .188 and an on-base percentage of .259. Since then, he's beginning to warm up, going  8-for-25 (.320) in his last seven games.

Side note:
Nationals went 5-4 at Turner Field in 2012 which includes being swept by the Braves in a three-game series last September 14-16. Braves look to increase their home win streak against the Nationals.

Strasburg has given up 11 earned runs so far this season. ALL have come in either the 1st or 6th innings. In order to get to Strasburg, the Braves must score early and often.



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