Atlanta @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2010 ) Atlanta 3, Washington 8
Nothing is going right for the Atlanta Braves’ offense lately.
The Braves will be searching for some runs in order to stay in the National League playoff picture when they face the Washington Nationals again on Saturday.
A couple of weeks ago, it looked like a sure bet that Atlanta would be in the playoffs in Bobby Cox’s last season as manager, either by taking the NL East title or cruising into the wild card slot.
But a couple of bad weeks in September can do some serious damage - and the Braves are certainly having trouble weathering the storm.
The offense is averaging less than three runs per game in the past 11 contests - leading to seven losses in that span.
The Braves managed just four runs in three losses to the Philadelphia Phillies earlier this week, killing their chances at the division crown and putting them back into a tight race with the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres for the wild card.
Carrying a half-game lead in the wild card standings into Friday’s matchup with the last-place Nationals, Atlanta had to feel pretty good about its chances with ace Tim Hudson on the mound. But Hudson allowed six runs and walked six in 5 2/3 innings as the Braves dropped an 8-3 decision.
Adam Dunn homered twice and drove in five for Washington.
That setback, combined with San Diego’s 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds, dropped Atlanta a half game behind the Padres in the wild card race. San Diego is also a half game behind the Giants in the NL West.
The Braves will be looking to stay in the race behind veteran Derek Lowe on Saturday.
No stranger to postseason-type pressure, Lowe has turned it up of late, picking up the win in each of his last three starts while allowing a total of three runs in 22 innings. His best of those three came against the Nationals on Sept. 13, when he struck out 12 and allowed six hits in eight scoreless frames.
Lowe had entered that start with a 1-6 record and 5.44 ERA in nine starts against Washington since joining Atlanta prior to the 2009 season.
The right-hander, who won a game in the 2004 World Series for Boston and has made 21 postseason appearances with the Red Sox and Dodgers, owns a 7-7 career record with a 3.81 ERA in 22 games -16 starts - against Washington.
The Nationals will counter with rookie Yunesky Maya.
The 29-year-old Cuban has had a little trouble adjusting to the major leagues thus far, allowing 11 runs in his first 15 2/3 big league frames. Maya had his longest start against the Braves opposite Lowe on Sept. 13, but suffered the loss while yielding four runs in six innings.