Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats
This is one of those games that the Washington Nationals find themselves as underdogs on the betting lines, and it is understandable as the Nats have the inexperienced Austin Voth starting today. Last night the Braves clinched the season series 10-7. There was a point where it looked like the Nats had the Braves number. The Nats took the first three games in their head-to-head matchups, and since that point, the Braves have dominated.
What can manager Dave Martinez do to change the results? His answer is that he will stay the course, and he will essentially pencil in the same lineup today with Raudy Ready starting in place of Yan Gomes who has started every game since Kurt Suzuki injured his elbow. Yes, Ryan Zimmerman is starting again at first base and in his last three games against the Braves he is just 1-11 with three doubleplays, In Martinez’s defense, Zimmerman has hit the right-handed starter of the Braves, Mike Foltynewicz, for a .364 batting average (4-11), and some of the alternatives must not have appealed to Martinez like Gerardo Parra (.375) at first base or shifting Asdrubal Cabrera (.429) to first base and inserting Brian Dozier (.250) at second base.
For the Braves, Freddie Freeman exited the game early yesterday after he tweaked his elbow, but all indications are that he will be in today’s lineup. Also expect the Braves to pencil in a lefty dominant lineup like they had against Max Scherzer yesterday.
Considering the Nationals underdog status in this game, they will play this one and hope that the ball bounces their way early and often in this game. For a fun stat, when the Washington Nationals score first this season, their record is 56-25.
Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
1st Pitch: 4:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN, FOX Sports Southeast, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® ( Streaming Internet 869)
Line-up subject to change (without notice):
- Trea Turner – SS
- Adam Eaton – RF
- Anthony Rendon – 3B
- Juan Soto – LF
- Asdrubal Cabrera – 2B
- Ryan Zimmerman – 1B
- Victor Robles – CF
- Raudy Read – C
- Austin Voth – RHP
