Thursday’s game: vs. Nationals

Probable starting pitchers: Braves RH Ryan Weber (0-2, 5.91) vs. RH Stephen Strasburg (10-7, 3.63)

What's new: With his two home runs in the first game of the series, A.J. Pierzynski had nine this season. He last hit double-digit homers in 2013 when he had 17 with the Rangers. Pierzynski was also hitting .299, trying to eclipse .300 for the first time since 2009 when he was with the White Sox. Freddie Freeman could be out of the Braves lineup the rest of the season due to his sore right wrist. That's good news for Strasburg, who has given up 12 hits in 28 at-bats to Freeman (.429) including two doubles, three home runs and nine RBIs. Freeman should be available to pinch hit though. In an odd statistical note, the 2-1 win in the series opener gave the Braves' a 28-18 record (.609) in one-run games this season, which ranked fourth in the majors behind the Pirates, Angels and Cubs.

- Carroll Rogers Walton

UPCOMING

Friday: vs. Cardinals, 7:35 p.m.

Saturday: vs. Cardinals, 7:10 p.m.

Sunday: vs. Cardinals, 3:05 p.m.