The Atlanta Braves are dangerously close to playing their way out of the playoffs. This past weekend did not help the effort of winning the National League wild card race. After getting swept by the Texas Rangers over the weekend, the Braves are still somewhat holding on to a potential wild card spot with 13 games left to play. They are now 10 ½ games back in the division and four games back from Pittsburgh in the wild card race. The Braves are hoping to get back on track as they off against the Washington Nationals in a home series.
The Braves are struggling, plain and simple. They have lost nine of 12 in September and inching closer to falling under .500 for the first time since the season started. In the last 14 games, the Braves are averaging just 2.3 runs per game while hitting .215 as a rotation. However, there is one thing going for them in this matchup and that is their success against Stephen Strasburg who is winless in his last nine starts against Atlanta. In their last meeting, the pitcher gave up three runs while striking out eight. He has a 7.17 ERA against the Braves, his worst against any division opponent.
The Braves like hitting off the right-hander. Freddie Freeman is 4 for 8 with two home runs against the pitcher. He is also hitting 4.76 with four homeruns in his last 16 games against the division rival. Justin Upton is 4 for 9 with three RBIs while Jason Heyward is hitting .419 in 31 career at-bats against Strasburg.
Ervin Santana will be tasked with helping get the Braves back on track, but he is not coming off his best efforts. The pitcher gave up a season-high six runs over five innings last Tuesday against the Nationals after going 7-1 with a 2.94 ERA in his last 10 starts. In three meetings against the Nationals, he is 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA. Denard Span and Adam LaRoche have the most success of the pitcher while Jayson Werth is hitting .163 against the Braves.
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