Washington @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2013 ) Washington 8, Atlanta 7
The first two games of this weekend's series between the Atlanta Braves and the visiting Washington Nationals have seen plenty of fireworks - and the best show might be yet to come. Julio Teheran takes the mound for the Braves in Sunday's series finale, less than two weeks after drilling Washington's Bryce Harper to set off a beanball battle that is still brewing. Washington evened the series at a game apiece with an 8-7 win in 15 innings Saturday, but the Braves lead the season series 11-4.
The tempers began to flare Aug. 6 when Harper started down a home run and Teheran retaliated by hitting Harper, leading both benches to empty. Things festered when the Braves plunked Harper twice Friday - forcing the brash outfielder to sit out Saturday with a bruised triceps - and boiled over when Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg was ejected in the second inning Saturday after drilling Justin Upton in the back and throwing back-to-back pitches behind Andrelton Simmons. The Nationals had scored three or fewer runs in 13 straight games against Atlanta before Saturday's outburst.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FSN South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (7-5, 3.42 ERA) vs. Braves RH Julio Teheran (9-6, 3.08)
Gonzalez is winless in his last five starts, including a disastrous outing in Detroit on July 31 when he yielded 10 runs and 11 hits, but has pitched better his last two times out. He threw four scoreless frames Tuesday against the Giants before a rain delay and a tight back ended his night early. The 27-year-old is 2-5 with a 5.24 ERA in eight starts versus Atlanta, including an 0-3 mark in four meetings this year.
Teheran had put together four straight outings with one or fewer earned run allowed before getting tagged for four runs over six innings in a loss to Philadelphia last time out. The 22-year-old has been tough at home, going 5-3 with a 2.93 ERA in 12 starts. Teheran is 1-1 with a 3.75 ERA in four starts against Washington, all this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Nationals OF Jayson Werth has reached base in the last 24 games he has started and is hitting .433 since All-Star break.
2. Harper is 3-for-7 with two homers against Teheran.
3. Braves SS Andrelton Simmons is 5-for-14 with two home runs versus Gonzalez.
PREDICTION: Braves 4, Nationals 3