ATLANTA - The Nationals have scored two runs in this series and have been shut out on four total hits over the last 15 innings. That's not good. This is a lineup that, given the injuries and young players filling in on a regular basis, has been very hit-or-miss over the last month. It'll need to swing back into the hit category today if these guys want to avoid a third straight loss to the first-place Braves.
On paper, the matchup against Brandon McCarthy looks like a better one for the Nationals, who were flummoxed the last two nights by Sean Newcomb and Mike Foltynewicz. The 34-year-old McCarthy comes in with a 5.02 ERA and 1.587 WHIP. And yet, the Nationals have had virtually no success against him over the years, including a start back in April in which they managed only one run in five innings against him.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: SunTrust Park
Gametime: 4:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 99.1 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 86 degrees, wind 8 mph out to left field
NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Bryce Harper
3B Anthony Rendon
1B Matt Adams
LF Juan Soto
CF Michael A. Taylor
2B Wilmer Difo
C Spencer Kieboom
LHP Gio Gonzalez
BRAVES
CF Ender Inciarte
2B Ozzie Albies
1B Freddie Freeman
RF Nick Markakis
C Tyler Flowers
3B Johan Camargo
LF Charlie Culberson
SS Dansby Swanson
RHP Brandon McCarthy