It flew under the radar it seems and never got any mention in the media that Gio Gonzalez’s scheduled start on Sunday against the Dodgers got pushed back when A.J Cole was inserted on Saturday for a “spot” start. With Monday’s team day-off, Gio should have then pitched yesterday, but Max Scherzer took the start yesterday on one extra day’s rest and Gio was moved to tonight on 3 day’s extra rest. Normally you would expect the beat media to ask about such a move which leaves us with no intel as to why it was done — the most obvious answer would be for extra rest.
Last week the Braves tagged Gio for 5 runs over 5 innings. Gonzalez has given up 12 earned runs in his last 4 games over 22 2/3 innings in his toughest stretch of the season that started after he went a season-high 121 pitches on August 20th. Gonzalez has now received some extra rest, and we hope it works.
For the Braves, they will start righty rookie Lucas Sims who has a 5.73 ERA in his 7 starts he made before he was moved to the bullpen a few weeks ago.
The Nationals are now 91-and-59 and are 4.5 games behind the Dodgers for the best record in baseball. The Nationals have a Magic # of 6 against the Cubs for home-field-advantage if they were to face each other in the NLDS.
Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves
Stadium: SunTrust Park
1st Pitch: 7:35 pm EDT
TV: MASN2, FOX Sports SE, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® (Internet 869)
Line-ups subject to change (without notice):
Here's how we're lining up tonight. pic.twitter.com/Nr0bhQ4Oek
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 20, 2017
