Series preview: vs Washington Nationals
When (TV): 7:35 p.m. Friday (FSSO), 7:10 p.m. Saturday (FSSO), 8:05 p.m. Sunday (FSSO)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers:
Friday: Braves RH Ervin Santana (10-6, 3.59 ERA) vs. RH Stephen Strasburg (8-9, 3.39)
Saturday: Braves RH Aaron Harang (9-6, 3.41 ERA) vs. RH Tanner Roark (11-7, 2.94 ERA)
Sunday: Braves LH Alex Wood (7-9, 3.20 ERA) vs. LH Gio Gonzalez (6-8, 4.01)
About the Braves:
Batting: The Braves have averaged 2.25 runs per game during their eight-game losing streak, their longest winless trip since 1949 when the franchise was in Boston. The last time they scored more than three runs was July 29. Freddie Freeman was 14-for-76 (.184) in his previous 19 games before going 3-for-4 on Wednesday in Seattle, including a two-run double. Jason Heyward has nine hits, including three for extra bases, in his first four games back from his back injury.
Pitching: Santana is a rarity — a hot pitcher on a slumping team. He has made four consecutive quality starts, and is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA since his loss in New York on July 9. He's faced the Nationals once this season, June 22 in Washington, and took the loss in a 4-1 game against Roark. He struck out nine and walked one, while making a quality start — giving up three earned runs in six innings. This is his first career matchup against Strasburg. Denard Span is 10-for-27 (.370) with a home run and six RBIs against him.
Miscellaneous: Shortstop Andrelton Simmons is a question mark to play this series because of a sprained ankle, which he injured Tuesday night in Seattle. He could end up on the disabled list. The Braves have won 24 of the past 33 games against the Nationals, dating to Aug. 22, 2012. They are 7-3 against the Nationals this season, but lost the past two games, in Washington on June 21-22.
About the Nationals:
Batting: They needed 13 innings Thursday, but defeated the Mets on a two-run homer by Bryce Harper, who had come under media scrutiny lately for slumping. The home run was his first since July 18 and he had hit .228 in 18 games since then. Span went 4-for-6 on Thursday to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. Adam LaRoche had his 23rd multihomer game Wednesday against the Mets to raise his August average to .381 (8-for-21). Since the Braves saw the Nationals, they've added Asdrubal Cabrera (hitting 5-for-24 since the trade), who is playing second base. Anthony Rendon moved to third with Ryan Zimmerman on the DL (hamstring).
Pitching: Strasburg ranks third on the Nationals' staff in wins behind Roark (11) and Doug Fister (11). He just collected his eighth win with seven shutout innings against the Phillies on Aug. 3 to snap a personal three-game losing streak. Strasburg is 3-5 with a 4.04 ERA in 14 career starts against the Braves and 34-23 with a 2.94 ERA in 85 career starts against everybody else. His old nemesis Dan Uggla is no longer a Brave, but Freeman (9-for-20, .450, two homers) and Heyward (11-for-26, .423, one homer) give him fits, too.
Miscellaneous: The Nationals are 11-9 since the All-Star break, but widened their lead over the Braves in the National League East to 4 1/2 games because the Braves are 6-13 in that time.
