First pitch: 7:10 pm ET on SportSouth/ESPN
Pitching Probables:
Jordan Zimmermann (WSH) 4-1, 2.00 ERA
Paul Maholm (ATL) 3-2, 3.30 ERA
Nationals Starting Lineup (career vs. Maholm):
Denard Span - CF (0-3)
Steve Lombardozzi - 2B (2-3)
Bryce Harper - RF (0-6, 4 K)
Ian Desmond - SS (4-13, 2B, HR, RBI, 2 BB, 3 K)
Adam LaRoche - 1B (3-12, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K)
Tyler Moore - LF (0-2, K)
Anthony Rendon - 3B (N/A)
Kurt Suzuki - C (2-3, K)
Jordan Zimmermann - P (N/A)
Braves Starting Lineup (career vs. Zimmermann):
Jordan Schafer - RF (1-5, 2 K)
Andrelton Simmons - SS (N/A)
Justin Upton - LF (3-7, K)
Freddie Freeman - 1B (1-5, 2B, RBI, 3 BB, K)
Evan Gattis - C (N/A)
Dan Uggla - 2B (2-13, 2B, BB, 2 K)
BJ Upton - CF (0-2)
Juan Francisco - 3B (N/A)
Paul Maholm - P (N/A)
Preview:
Nats RHP Jordan Zimmermann has himself a difficult task to complete: put an end to the Braves recent dominance over the Nationals. Tim Hudson and the Braves whipped up on the Nationals, 8-1 last night at Turner Field, making them 5-0 against their NL East rival and have won nine straight dating back to last August. Coming into play today, the Braves hold a 4.5-game lead on the Nationals as Paul Maholm and Jordan Zimmermann are set to do battle in the third game of the four-game series.
Braves snapped their recent 3-7 skid by winning the first two games in the series over aces Stephen Strasburg and Gio Gonzalez. Although Strasburg and Gonzalez are the "aces" of the Nats rotation, neither has been as good as Zimmermann, who is 4-1 with a 2.00 ERA in five starts this season. In his last start against the Reds, Zimmermann was brilliant, throwing a complete game, one hit shutout.
Paul Maholm (3-2, 3.30 ERA) began the season red-hot with 25 2/3 scoreless innings, but has hit a rough patch lately, giving up eleven runs in his last 4 1/3 innings pitched, which includes giving up eight runs on eight hits, walked three, and struck out three in 3 2/3 innings last Friday night against the Tigers. Maholm did dominate the Nats back on April 14th, going 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball and only allowed four hits as the Braves blew by Gio Gonzalez and the Nationals, 9-0 at Nationals Park. Maholm has not pitched at home since April 3rd which was his first start of the season.
Braves recall David Carpenter to take Ayala's roster spot:
Braves called up RHP David Carpenter from Triple-A Gwinnett yesterday as Luis Ayala was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an anxiety disorder. In six relief appearances this season for Gwinnett, Carpenter has posted a 3.52 ERA and has walked four and struck out eleven in 15 1/3 innings pitched. In 67 career MLB appearances, Carpenter is 1-5 with a 5.70 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP in 60 innings pitched.
Side note:
In five starts in his career against the Braves, Jordan Zimmermann is 2-1 with a 3.81 ERA. His only start at Turner Field was on May 12, 2011, going 6 1/3 innings and gave up three runs and struck out a career-high eleven batters.
Paul Maholm is 2-6 with an ERA of 4.91 in 11 career starts against the Nationals, including taking the loss the last time the Nats beat the Braves, back on August 21st of last year.
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