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Braves (64-78) vs. Nationals (88-55) Series Info:
Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 7:05 a.m. EST (MASN/106.7)
Game 2: Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 7:05 p.m. EST (MASN/106.7)
Game 3: Thursday, Sept. 14 at 7:05 p.m. EST (MASN2/106.7)
Pitching Matchups:
Tuesday: Julio Teheran (10-11, 4.77 ERA) vs. Gio Gonzalez (14-6, 2.50)
Wednesday: Luiz Gohara (4 IP, 6 ER) vs. Max Scherzer (14-5, 2.32)
Thursday: Mike Foltynewicz (10-12, 4.74) vs. Tanner Roark (12-9, 4.48)
What to watch for:
Nats aim to reach the 90-win threshold
Despite the injury issues that have plagued Washington the entire season, the club’s on pace to be the best regular season team in franchise history.
If the Nats take two of three from Atlanta, they’ll be the fastest Nationals/Expos team to reach 90 wins.
The 2012 Nats are the current holders of that record, eclipsing 90 on Sept. 19 and finishing the season with a franchise-best 98 total victories.
No. 1 seed not far out of reach
While the NL East has been taken care of, the Dodgers’ recent slide has opened up a chance for the top seed in the National League.
Losers of 11 straight and 16 of their last 17, the Dodgers are just three and a half games ahead of Washington for the best record in baseball.
The Nats will host Los Angeles this weekend for a three-game set, and could have the chance to pass LA in the standings if the Dodgers continue their skid.
Will Brian Snitker be the Braves’ manager again next season?
The Braves don’t have much to play for at this point in the season, but Brian Snitker certainly does.
Snitker, who took over for Fredi Gonzalez after a 9-28 start to last season, has a team option for next year that has yet to be exercised.
With President of Baseball Operations John Hart needing a new deal as well, there could be an organizational shakeup if anyone new is brought in in his place.
Who to watch out for: Tyler Flowers
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He’s only played in 89 games, but 31-year-old backstop Tyler Flowers has quietly been one of the best hitters on the Braves this season.
Sitting behind only Freddie Freeman and Matt Adams for the third best OPS on the team among players who’ve played at least 70 games, Flowers is creeping up on career highs in RBIs, runs scored and doubles.
With Adams battling a hamstring injury that he suffered Sunday, Flowers will be relied on heavily to complement Freeman and provide some runs for Atlanta.