TODAY'S STARTING PITCHERS ARE GOING TO STARE AT YOU NOW...(Did the photographer catch Lowe by surprise?)
Olsen vs Lowe...
The Washington Nationals are 1-7-1 so far this season in games Scott Olsen has started, with the one tie set to be completed this week in Houston. Olsen had his best performance as a National last time out in his first start since coming off the DL with "left-shoulder tendinitis"...The Braves are just (2-4) in Derek Lowe's last six starts, with Lowe (1-4) since May 28th. In Lowe's last 15.1 IP he's allowed 25 H, 13 R, 11 ER, 2 HR's and 7 walks. Lowe's (0-1) in 2 starts against DC this season, having given up 11 H, 4 ER and 5 BB in 9.0 IP.
DC vs Derek Lowe...
Josh Bard - 3 for 21, .143 AVG, 1 HR, 1 RBI.
Ronnie Belliard - 2 for 11, .182 AVG, 1 2B.
Adam Dunn - 1 for 16, .063 AVG, 2 BB, 5 K's.
Cristian Guzman - 9 for 26, .346 AVG, 1 2B, 5 RBI's.
Willie Harris - 5 for 25, .200 AVG, 1 2B.
Nick Johnson - 6 for 24, .250 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI's, 2 BB, 4 K's.
Austin Kearns - 2 for 17, .118 AVG, 1 HR, 2 RBI's.
Nyjer Morgan - 3 for 6, .500 AVG.
Josh Willingham - 3 for 11, .273 AVG, 2 HR's, 5 RBI's.
Ryan Zimmerman - 5 for 23, .217 AVG, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI's, 9 K's.
The Braves vs Scott Olsen...
Matt Diaz - 9 for 21, .429 AVG, 3 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI's.
Yunel Escobar - 2 for 15, .133 AVG, 1 2B.
Jeff Francouer - 7 for 28, .250 AVG, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR's, 8 RBI's.
Chipper Jones - 13 for 23, .565 AVG, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR's, 13 RBI's.
Brian McCann - 6 for 20, .300 AVG, 2 HR, 6 RBI's.
Nate McLouth - 2 for 6, .333 AVG, 2 HR, 6 RBI's.
Martin Prado - 2 for 6, .333 AVG, 1 2B, 1 RBI.
Vermont Lake Monsters Minute...
Lake Monsters' lefty Jack McGeary, the Washington Nationals' 6th Round pick in 2007, threw 6.0 scoreless last night allowing just 1 H and 2 walks to the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Tampa Bay Rays' Class-A affiliate, in an 8-0 combined shutout. McGeary was (0-6) with a 6.79 ERA in 13 GS and 55.2 IP at Class-A Hagerstown, McGeary, 20, is now (1-0) with a 0.55 ERA in 16.1 IP in which he's allowed 8 H, 4 R, 1 ER and 10 BB while collecting 8 K's and holding opponents to a .143 AVG.
DNTNJ!!! UPDATE:
Washington Nationals - Nationals Journal - Rizzo Has No Plans For A July Firesale - Chico Harlan
"The Nationals have baseball's worst record, a stockpile of tradable veterans and a regular lineup with six of eight position players aged 29 or older. But acting general manager Mike Rizzo said today that he feels no obligation to conduct a firesale..."
• Check the NatCast if you're heading to Nationals Park...
For A Braves Fan's Perspective, Check Out The SBN's Atlanta Braves Blog:
Who's Watching The Nationals?