Today is the season finale with the Atlanta Braves, and the last time that the Washington Nationals will ever be scheduled to play in Turner Field aka Trea Turner Field. The stadium nicknamed the ‘Ted’ by Braves fans in honor of media mogul and former Braves team owner Ted Turner has been ‘owned’ by Trea Turner since his call-up last year to the Majors. Trea Turner hit his first career home run in Atlanta last year and now has 5 home runs in Turner Field with 10 RBIs and 4 stolen bases and a full slash line of .395/.429/.842/1.271. Don’t fret Braves fans, Trea is hitting .500 in Camden Yards and Progressive Field, and Trea Turner dominates more than any stadium in the Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati where he is batting 1.000.
Today’s pitcher for the Nationals is Joe Ross who will be making his 1st start since July 2nd. Since Joe Ross is on the 60 day DL, his activation will require one player to be removed from the 40 man roster and that will require a player to be moved to the 60 day DL or a player to be designated for assignment.
Joe Ross will be on a performance limit today which Dusty Baker distinguishes from a pitch limit where Baker and pitching coach Mike Maddux will monitor his performance. In Joe Ross’ sim game 6 days ago, he threw 60 pitches, and in a short bullpen session on Friday he threw 15 pitches.
This is a big first step for Ross who is needed as part of the post-game roster, and time will tell to see if he will be a starter or a reliever.
The Braves pitch Matt Wisler who has a 5.00 ERA currently and a 6-12 record. The right-handed Wisler has been inconsistent this season, and Wisler is one of many Braves starters who is auditioning for the Braves 2017 rotation.
Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves
Stadium: Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia
1st Pitch: 1:35 pm EDT
TV: MASN, Fox Sports South, MLB.TV
Line-ups (subject to change without notice):
- Trea Turner 2B
- Jayson Werth LF
- Bryce Harper RF
- Clint Robinson 1B
- Wilson Ramos C
- Ben Revere CF
- Danny Espinosa SS
- Wilmer Difo 3B
- Joe Ross RHP
UPDATED: The weather for forecast in Atlanta is gloomy with this weather forecast from Weather.com: Rain showers this morning then thunderstorms with heavy rainfall arriving during the afternoon hours. High 79F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall possibly over one inch.
UPDATED 10:20AM: The updated weather looks like the rain showers will stop shortly and then it is the hit and miss thunderstorms and heavy rain that can replace it.
UPDATED 11:50AM: The tarp is still on the field and it is raining again.
Welcome back Joe Ross
The Trea triple
