GameThread: Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals. Game 79 Or 80 Of 162.

TODAY'S STARTING PITCHERS ARE GOING TO STARE AT YOU NOW...(Did the photographer catch Lowe by surprise?)

Scott Olsen

#19 / Pitcher / Washington Nationals

Height: 6-5

Weight: 215

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Jan 12, 1984

'09 Stats - (1-4, 6.56 ERA), 9 GS, 48.0 IP, 66 H, 38 R, 35 ER, 8 HR, 18 BB, 36 K's, 1.75 WHIP, .324 BAA.

vs ATL - (2-5, 6.91 ERA), 12 G, 11 GS, 56.0 IP, 65 H, 47 R, 43 ER, 12 HR, 27 BB, 48 K's, 1.63 WHIP, .283 BAA.

Origin Story - Florida Marlins' 6th Round pick, 173rd overall in 2002. 11/10/08 - Traded to Washington Nationals with OF Josh Willingham for IF Jake Smolinski, RHP P.J. Dean and IF Emiliano Bonifacio.

Derek Lowe

#32 / Pitcher / Atlanta Braves

Height: 6-6

Weight: 230

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Jun 01, 1973

'09 Stats - (7-6, 4.44 ERA), 17 GS, 101.1 IP, 107 H, 54 R, 50 ER, 5 HR, 35 BB, 55 K's, 1.40 WHIP, .273 BAA.

vs DC - (5-2, 2 S, 2.97 ERA), 14 G, 8 GS, 57.2 IP, 49 H, 19 ER, 5 HR, 17 BB, 47 K's, 1.14 WHIP, .231 BAA.

Origin Story - Seattle Mariners' 8th Round pick, 215th overall in 1991. 7/31/97 - Traded to Red Sox with C Jason Varitek for RHP Heathcliff Slocumb. 1/11/05 - Signed as a Free Agent With LA Dodgers. 1/13/09 - Signed as a Free Agent With Atlanta Braves.

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:

Talking Chop

Who's Watching The Nationals?