Atlanta @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2018 ) Atlanta 8, Washington 5

Maybe the Atlanta Braves have found an answer to their season-long issue of effectiveness at the leadoff spot, and they head into Saturday’s middle contest of a three-game series at the Washington Nationals looking to capture the series and regain the top spot in National League East. Rookie left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. got his first career start in the leadoff spot Friday, and all the 20-year-old did was finish 3-for-4 with a homer, two stolen bases and three runs scored in an 8-5 victory.

One concern for Atlanta entering the middle game of the series is the health of All-Star second baseman Ozzie Albies, who doubled, stole a base and scored a run before leaving after two innings with right hamstring tightness. But Atlanta emphatically snapped a 3-8 skid by jumping on Washington pitching, finishing with 12 hits (seven for extra bases) while handing the Nationals their sixth loss in the past nine games. Third baseman Anthony Rendon finished 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to nine games and has collected at least one base hit in 26 of his past 30 games. The two youngest players in the majors homered in the series opener, Acuna belting his eighth longball in the top of the eighth before 19-year-old Juan Soto answered for the Nationals with a two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), MASN2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Sean Newcomb (8-5, 3.51 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (6-6, 3.72)
Newcomb stumbled into the All-Star break with three subpar starts to begin July, losing all three outings while posting a 9.75 ERA with 12 walks and four homers allowed in 12 innings. The 25-year-old had pitched himself into consideration for the NL All-Star team with a dominant May and June, during which he went 7-1 with a 2.07 ERA. Newcomb, who gave up three runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings in last Saturday's loss to Arizona, is 1-1 with a 5.56 ERA in two starts against Washington this season.
Gonzalez showed signs of shaking off an awful June with three good starts in July leading into the All-Star break, posting a 3.94 ERA after going 0-3 with an 8.44 ERA and six homers allowed in five outings last month. The 32-year-old gave up two runs on six hits in six innings in a July 11 loss at Pittsburgh and has not won a game since beating Baltimore on May 28 – a streak of eight consecutive starts. The first start of that stretch was a no-decision June 2 at Atlanta in which Gonzalez gave up three runs on five hits with nine strikeouts and no walks in seven innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington 1B Ryan Zimmerman (right oblique strain) was activated from the disabled list but did not start; he grounded out as a pinch-hitter, while 1B Matt Adams finished 1-for-4 with his 16th homer.

2. The Braves finished with a season-high four stolen bases Friday.

3. Atlanta RF Nick Markakis finished 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to nine games.

PREDICTION: Braves 6, Nationals 3