NEXT: vs. NATIONALS
Tuesday
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: SPSO
Probable starting pitchers: Braves RH Matt Wisler (6-8, 5.40 ERA) vs. RH Tanner Roark (4-6, 4.76)
Comment: Wisler is coming off his first win since July 26, holding the Mets to two runs in seven innings of a 6-2 win on Tuesday. Wisler had gone 0-7 with a 7.71 ERA over his previous nine starts. He used two scoreless innings in relief against the Nationals on Sept. 6 to get back on track, posting a 3.43 ERA since. The Braves don't have to face Max Scherzer Tuesday because he had to pitch Monday's makeup game against the Reds. Roark has given up 12 earned runs in 19 innings (5.68 ERA) over four starts since taking Joe Ross' slot in the Nationals' rotation. He has yet to make it past the fifth inning.
The Braves wrapped up the road portion of their schedule at 25-56, including 6-26 since the All-Star break. The Braves, who are 37-38 at home and 62-94 overall, need to win at least one of their final six games against the Nationals and Cardinals to avoid their first 100-loss season since 1988. The Braves are just 3-13 against the Nationals this year. Starting with Dan Uggla’s three-run homer in a 13-12 win on April 28, the Nationals have taken 12 of the past 14 meetings. The Braves have a 6.39 ERA in the season series while hitting just .247 with five home runs and averaging 3.4 runs per game.
Wednesday
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: SPSO
Probable starting pitchers: Braves RH Williams Perez (6-6, 5.04) vs. RH Jordan Zimmermann (13-9, 3.68)
Comment: Perez is 2-0 with a 2.92 ERA in his past four starts, with five walks and 18 strikeouts. He has three quality starts in his past four outings and came one out shy of another in the fourth. Perez will be making his first start against the Nationals. He faced them in relief in his major league debut on May 8, giving up four runs and recording just one out. Zimmermann gave up six earned runs to the Phillies in two of his past three starts. He looked like his usual self in a 15-1 win over Atlanta on Sept. 3, holding the Braves to one run in six innings.
Thursday
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: SPSO
Probable starting pitchers: Braves RH Ryan Weber (0-2, 5.91) vs. RH Stephen Strasburg (10-7, 3.63)
Comment: Weber gave up as many runs in his past start (seven) as he had in his first three starts combined. The Marlins victimized him for nine hits in just two innings in his shortest start and second loss of the year. This is his first look at the Nationals. Strasburg is 2-1 with a 1.48 ERA in four starts in September with four straight double-digit strikeout games. He's got 50 strikeouts and only four walks in his 30 1/3 innings this month. Strasburg is 5-7 with a 4.01 in 18 career starts against the Braves, but he pitched five scoreless innings to beat them in his only start against them this year June 23 in Washington.
UPCOMING
Friday: vs. Cardinals, 7:35 p.m.
Saturday: vs. Cardinals, 7:10 p.m.
Sunday: vs. Cardinals, 3:05 p.m.
