The Atlanta Braves try to do the unexpected as they look to win the third game of the series against the struggling Washington Nationals. ESPN will be airing the action and you can check out the live stream available online as first pitch is a little after 7 p.m. ET.
The Braves are on a roll against their N.L. East rival and they are setting themselves up well for the rest of the season. Who knows what will happen down the stretch? At the pace these two teams are going, as the Braves have owned the Nationals, Atlanta could finish with the tiebreaker in case both teams finish with similar records at the end of the season.
Let's get one thing right, these are not the Nationals people expected to see in 2013. They are a better team than this, apparently, they just have to get things together. It seems as if Bryce Harper is the only one making solid contact in this team. Just wait until they come around, their pitching is pretty decent. Despite Stephen Strasburg's recent arm troubles, he has pitched well. Not to his potential and way better than his 1-5 record indicates.
One guy who might as well be considered the ace of the staff, Jordan Zimmerman and you might as well call him the ace of the staff. The Braves escaped his fury in the last series, but Zimmerman brings his 4-1, 2.00 ERA to Atlanta looking to improve his numbers. He's coming off a start against the Cincinnati Reds who he completely shut down. He gave up a hit and a walk in a complete game shutout with four strikeouts.
On the hill for the Braves, Paul Maholm takes the hill looking to redeem himself following last Friday's start against the Detroit Tigers where he gave up eight earned runs in 3.2 innings pitched. In his last 9.2 innings, Maholm has surrendered 11 earned runs.
It's the Braves vs. Nationals, click here for the live stream of this game.
