Photo by Warning Track Power for TalkNats
Once again, Mother Nature decided the outcome of a game with another postponement. Instead of Dave Martinez sticking with his Saturday starter, Gio Gonzalez, the Nationals manager has decided to bump Gio and go with Max Scherzer who was previously scheduled for the Sunday start. The Braves followed the Nationals move and will do the same and bump Saturday’s starter Sean Newcomb and pitch righty Mike Foltynewicz today.
The same message from yesterday is apposite for today: Winning has to start now — and yes, those are 5-words have been repeated over and over again. Friday’s loss was just another straw that could break the camel’s back. The games are getting X’d off the schedule and time is running out.
The weather report looks better than yesterday to get the game started but looks sketchy from 2pm to 6:30pm with rain forecasted most of the late afternoon. As the weather looks questionable, it mirrors the Nationals season.
Today’s line-up will be interesting as Brian Goodwin has hit the Braves starter well to the tune of a .462 batting average with 2 home runs, but most of the history against Fottynewicz is not really valid as he has never been as good as he has been this season. He was named an All-Star for the first time this season and took a 2.66 ERA into the All-Star break. He has faced the Nationals in each series so far this season and today will mark his 4th start. If you want small sample sizes, Max Scherzer is batting .500 against him this season.
For those interested, Gio Gonzalez will be moved to start tomorrow in Milwaukee against righty Jhoulys Chacin with Jeremy Hellickson moving to Tuesday against the Brewers who have not announced their starter, and Tanner Roark will be bumped to Wednesday in the afternoon finale in Milwaukee, and he will most likely face Wade Miley who just held the Dodgers to zero earned runs on Friday night. All this points to Stephen Strasburg will be bumped to Thursday in Miami to face Dan Straily.
Manager Dave Martinez wanted to seed his rotation with Gonzalez between Strasburg and Scherzer with Hellickson in the 4th spot and Roark in the 5th spot. Now the rotation will go Strasburg, Scherzer, Gonzalez, Hellickson and Roark.
Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 1:35 pm EDT
TV: MASN2; MLB.TV app out-of-network
Nats Radio: 106.7 The Fan and via the MLB app
Line-ups subject to change without notice:
