The Washington Nationals are one win away from clinching the National League East division title for the second time in three years. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves are just a few losses from saying goodbye to the postseason. Their late season slide has been disastrous. The Nationals gained 5 ½ games on them this month alone as they look to get their seventh win in nine games against their rivals.
Atlanta won the East last season, but has no chance of making that happen this year with 12 games left to play. They are currently on a four-game losing streak while being 3-10 since the start of September. Atlanta has dropped below .500 for the first time since the start of the season, sitting 4 ½ games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates for the wild card spot. The Braves are getting outscored 62-33 in this stretch of games while batting just .207 in the month of September.
The Braves will put Aaron Harang on the mound for some momentum. He is responsible for their only win in the last eight games, giving up one unearned run while striking out nine against the Nationals last Wednesday. He had lost his previous three starts before that game, putting up a 7.98 ERA. However, he is 2-0 with a 0.90 ERA in his last three starts against Washington. If Harang can get some run support, something that has yet to happen, the Braves stand a chance at breaking the losing streak.
The Nationals will put Tanner Roark on the mound to build off a solid last few starts. He gave up just two runs in six innings against the Mets in his last season, while pitching into the sixth innings in his last 15 starts. He is 2-0 with a 2.63 ERA in four starts against Atlanta, most recently giving up one run and striking out six in seven innings back in August.
The Nationals could be without Bryce Harper this matchup. He left in the fourth innings on Monday after feeling light-headed during the game. Manager Matt Williams believes the outfielder got sick.
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