By: Sam Goldfarb
After snapping a mini two-game skid in Monday night’s series-opener, the Atlanta Braves (25-
26) will look to continue their recent dominance of the Washington Nationals (21-29) at Truist
Park Tuesday. Second-placed Atlanta (3.5 GB of New York Mets) has a massive opportunity to
climb the NL East standings in this midweek series, playing the second of a four-game series
against a Washington team in the division cellar.
The Braves began a seven-game home-stand in style on Monday night, dispatching the Nationals
in 5-3 fashion. After storming out to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings, Atlanta weathered a
three-run top-of-the-fourth and snagged a crucial insurance run the home half of the sixth,
eventually setting up veteran closer Will Smith’s ninth save of the season.
Star right-fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. also continued working his way out of a prolonged May
slump, an extremely welcome sight for Braves fans. Atlanta’s leadoff man went 2-of-4 at the
plate Monday night and blasted his 16 th homer in the bottom of the second, tying for the MLB
lead in the process. After slashing just .191 in the first three weeks of May, Acuña closed the
month with a respectable 6-of-16 stretch, and he carries a four-game hit-streak into the month of
June.
Atlanta will face a bottom-dwelling Washington Nationals team in utter free-fall. The Nationals
have struggled massively of late, dropping their last five games (and six of their last seven).
Before falling at Truist Field Monday night, Washington suffered a humiliating home sweep at
the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers, a series in which the Nats managed just three total runs in
as many games.
While Washington has put together a respectable defensive campaign (214 total runs allowed),
its offense has been notably underwhelming in 2021. As a team, the Nats have managed the
third-least runs in the majors, driving in a meager 188. They have endured a down-year at the
plate from fourth-year superstar Juan Soto, who has hit just four total home runs at a career-
worst .270 clip. 27-year-old shortstop Trae Turner is the only National with a batting average
above .300 (.303) and a double-digit home-run tally (10), but Washington’s other key franchise
cornerstone has managed just one hit in his last five games (1 of his last 17).
Given Washington’s well-documented offensive struggles, Atlanta will likely look to avoid any
semblance of a pitchers’ duel over the next three games. However, the Braves could have their
work cut out for them on Tuesday, facing Nats righty Stephen Strasburg (1-2, 4.43 ERA). The
2019 World Series MVP has struggled – both on the mound and with injury – over the past two
seasons, but he has posted far more respectable numbers since returning from right shoulder
inflammation late last month (1-1, 2.61 ERA, 10.1 IP in two May starts).
Meanwhile, Atlanta will hand the reigns to 27-year-old left-hander Max Fried (2-2, 4.63 ERA).
The Santa Monica, CA native has been on fire of late, allowing just four total earned runs and
logging a 1.50 ERA last month. Fried is fresh off a 7-inning gem in Pittsburgh last Sunday,
allowing just four hits and one earned run in his second win of the year. The Braves will hope he can continue this red-hot mound form as they look to prey on a struggling Nationals team in back-to-back nights.
