The Washington Nationals will try to end their five-game losing streak when they begin a road trip with a four-game series in Atlanta.
This will be the first of 13 meetings between the two National League East clubs. Last year, the Nationals won eight of 13 games, the first time they had beaten the Braves in a season series since 2017.
The Nationals suffered a three-game sweep against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend, losing 6-1 on Sunday. The Braves dropped two of three games at Pittsburgh on the quick road trip, losing 4-3 in the finale.
The pitching matchup for the opening game features Atlanta’s Grant Holmes (2-3, 4.58 ERA) against Washington’s Jake Irvin (2-1, 3.94).
Irvin has been a model of consistency in his eight previous starts, working at least five innings in every outing. He bounced back from his worst start of the year, when he allowed six runs against the Phillies on April 30, to throw 5 1/3 innings and give up only two runs against Cleveland in the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday.
“My game is length,” Irwin said. “I try to get as deep as I can for these guys. And on days where I know the bullpen might need a little more, you stick a little deeper and see what you can do for the team.”
Irvin has made five career starts against Atlanta, going 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA. The right-hander faced the Braves four times last year and posted a 2-0 record and 1.16 ERA. Irvin has a 1.59 ERA in two starts at Truist Park with 13 strikeouts and a .194 opponents’ batting average in 11 1/3 innings.
Holmes, who will make his eighth start, has lost his last two decisions. The right-hander was beaten by Cincinnati on Wednesday when he pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits, one walk and five strikeouts. Holmes has had problems keeping the ball in the park, giving up six homers over his past three starts.
Holmes has never started against the Nationals. He faced them once in relief last August and worked one scoreless inning.
The Atlanta offense continues to struggle to produce runs. Over the last 11 games, the Braves have scored three or fewer runs eight times. They scored just eight runs in the three games against the Pirates. The poster child for the offensive malaise is Ozzie Albies, who is on an 0-for-22 skid.
“We’ve just got to start scoring more runs,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “We can’t wait until the eighth inning and then potentially blow up our bullpen again. I mean, we’re going to hit. We’re not going to not hit for the next four months.”
With the loss on Sunday, the Braves failed in their effort to reach the .500 mark for the fifth time this season.
“We’re not thinking about (.500),” Atlanta first baseman Matt Olson said. “We’re showing up to win every day.”
The Braves reported that ace Spencer Strider threw a bullpen session on Saturday, his second since suffering a right hamstring injury on April 21 while playing catch. There is no set date for his return.
“It was good,” Snitker said. “I talked to him (Sunday) morning and he felt great. Really optimistic where he’s at and we’ll see what the next step is.”
–Field Level Media
