Atlanta @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 30, 2010 ) Washington 1, Atlanta 4
The last time Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg suffered a defeat, it was at the hands of the Atlanta Braves. The first-place Braves hope to repeat that feat on Tuesday, when the teams begin a three-game series at Nationals Park.
When Strasburg faced the Braves on June 28 in Atlanta, he matched Tim Hudson for six scoreless innings until the Braves caught up to him in the seventh and pulled away for a 5-0 victory. Strasburg allowed a season-high four runs - three earned - over 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven.
Since then, Strasburg (5-2, 2.32 ERA) has won his last three starts. He has a 2.04 ERA during that span and has struck out 22 and walked five over 17 2/3 innings. Strasburg defeated the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, holding them to three runs over 5 2/3 innings and striking out seven in an 8-5 win.
The rookie right-hander has been one of few bright spots for the Nationals lately. They've lost three in a row and seven of nine to fall 15 1/2 games behind the Braves in the NL East. They were swept in a three-game series at the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend.
The Nationals have also struggled at the plate lately, hitting .244 and averaging 3.9 runs in their first 10 games since the All-Star break. Mike Morse has been one of Washington's few hot hitters, going 7-for-12 with two homers during a five-game hitting streak.
The Braves have stumbled slightly coming out of the All-Star break, as they've gone 5-5 to start the second half, allowing the Philadelphia Phillies to creep within 4 1/2 games in the NL East standings.
Rookie Jason Heyward has paced the Braves' offense over the past week, putting together six consecutive multi-hit games and hitting .538 during that span.
Catcher Brian McCann, who had two hits off Strasburg in the first meeting, has also been hot. The All-Star is hitting .333 with three homers and 14 RBIs in nine games since the Midsummer Classic.
The Braves will counter Strasburg with last year's rookie phenom, 23-year-old right-hander Tommy Hanson, who looks to get the Braves back on track after dropping two of three at the Florida Marlins over the weekend.
Hanson (8-6, 4.12 ERA) has endured something of a sophomore slump, and he is winless in his last three starts. He took a no-decision Wednesday against San Diego, allowing two runs on six hits over 6 1/3 innings in the Padres' 4-2 win.
In five starts against the Nationals, Hanson is 2-0 with a 2.94 ERA. When he faced them on May 5 at Nationals Park, Hanson didn't factor in the decision in Atlanta's 7-6 win. He allowed four runs on nine hits over six innings.