Braves at Nationals Under 9
Matt Adams was a shrewd pickup for the Braves after they lost Freddie Freeman to injury. But, sooner or later, the Braves’ bats were going to go cold minus Freeman. That cold streak is upon the Braves now.
Atlanta has scored just nine runs in its last four games, including only one run during each of its past three games.
Don’t look for the Braves to break out of their offensive funk against Stephen Strasburg today. Strasburg just may be the third-best pitcher in the National League behind only Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer. Strasburg has the fifth-lowest ERA and WHIP in the NL and is in the top eight in strikeouts with 89 in 80 1/3 innings.
Strasburg has dominated the Braves during the past three seasons going 6-1 with a 2.68 ERA in his last eight starts against them. Freeman and Adonis Garcia are the only Braveswho have had previous success versus Strasburg. Both are on the DL.
The key to making this under work, though, is Atlanta starter Mike Foltynewicz. I’ve always liked his potential and now the consistency is beginning to show with better control. Foltynewicz is in his best form of the season throwing 14 scoreless innings during his last two starts with 14 strikeouts.
The Nationals have scored the third-most runs in the majors, but are going through offensive woes. If you discount a six-run game against the Orioles and their overmatched starter, Alec Asher, the Nationals have scored just nine runs in their last five games, an average of less than two per game.
Ryan Zimmeran leads Washington in hitting, homers and RBIs. He has missed the last two games, however, with a back injury. Obviously it’s a huge plus for the under if Zimmerman remains out.
