Washington @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 29, 2010 ) Atlanta 3, Washington 5
In two starts against the Atlanta Braves this season, Washington Nationals left-hander Scott Olsen has been at his best.
The Braves hope the old Olsen they used to throttle shows up when the teams begin a three-game series on Tuesday at Turner Field.
Atlanta scored three runs in the ninth on Monday for a 4-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking its major-league best 20th victory in its last at-bat. The Braves will look to keep the momentum rolling on Tuesday against a pitcher they have fared well against historically, but one who has shut them down this year.
Olsen (3-4, 5.11 ERA) has been hit hard in his last two outings, including on Wednesday when he allowed seven runs and eight hits in 1 2/3 innings against the Florida Marlins.
The 26-year-old left-hander won't miss seeing injured third baseman Chipper Jones, who has hit .419 with two homers in 31 at-bats against him. Olsen, however, will still have his hands full against the Braves.
Led by Matt Diaz (12-for-31, four home runs) and Omar Infante (5-for-14), the Braves have hit Olsen hard throughout his career. He is 4-5 with a 5.65 ERA in 15 career appearances against Atlanta.
His performance against the Braves this season belies those numbers, however. In two starts against Atlanta in 2010, Olsen has allowed five runs - three earned - over 13 1/3 innings for a 2.03 ERA.
Olsen took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of a 3-2 win against the Braves on May 6 in Washington, though he ended up with a no-decision after allowing two runs in the eighth. He ended a two-month stint on the disabled list with a win against Atlanta on July 29, holding the Braves to three runs over six innings in a 5-3 victory.
The Braves have won five of six to maintain a lead of 2 1/2 games over Philadelphia in the NL East, and they've done it with outstanding pitching. In 15 games this month, no Braves starter has allowed more than three earned runs - and they've given up three on only one occasion.
That dubious distinction belongs to rookie left-hander Mike Minor, who allowed four runs - three earned - over six innings in his major-league debut on Monday at the Houston Astros.
Minor (0-0, 4.50 ERA) will make his second start on Tuesday. The 22-year-old lefty was rushed to the majors when Kris Medlen went on the disabled list last week. He struck out five and walked one in his debut.
The Braves could get All-Star Martin Prado back in the lineup as early as Tuesday. Prado, who went on the disabled list July 31 with a broken right pinkie, made a rehab start at Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday, going 1-for-4 and seeing time at second base and third base.