Washington @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2018 ) Washington 5, Atlanta 10

The two frontrunners for National League rookie of the year put on a show Friday night and, as the Atlanta Braves host the Washington Nationals on Saturday, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Juan Soto again will be the center of attention. Acuna fell a homer short of the cycle and finished 4-for-5 in Friday’s series-opening 10-5 victory for the NL East-leading Braves, while Soto homered and scored twice as Washington lost for the second consecutive game after winning five in a row.

The 20-year-old Acuna - the third-youngest player in the majors - recorded his first career four-hit game to raise his average to .337 with 36 RBIs and 46 runs scored since moving into the leadoff spot in the lineup on July 20. The Braves have won a season-high six games in a row and maintain a 7 1/2-game lead over Philadelphia in the NL East, reducing their magic number to clinch the division crown to nine. Soto, the youngest player in the majors at age 19, extended his hitting streak to eight games (batting .343 in that stretch) while becoming the third player in major-league history to hit 20-plus homers as a teenager (Tony Conigliaro, 24 in 1964; Bryce Harper, 22 in 2012). After going 18-39 against the Nationals from 2015-17, the Braves have defeated Washington 10 times in 17 games this season.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Fox

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Jeremy Hellickson (5-3, 3.57 ERA) vs. Braves RH Julio Teheran (9-7, 3.95)

Hellickson makes his first appearance since Aug. 15, having missed four weeks with a right wrist injury, and the veteran made it known he did not want to pitch out of the bullpen in the final two weeks. The 31-year-old makes his 19th start of the season and put together a good stretch before the injury, posting a 3.22 ERA with a 3-2 record in his final seven starts. Hellickson made one start against the Braves this season, leaving a June 3 appearance after four pitches due to a leg injury.

Teheran managed just one decision in his past seven starts but has pitched well in that stretch, posting a 2.64 ERA with a .163 opponents batting average. The 27-year-old surrendered just two hits and two runs (one earned) with six strikeouts over six innings Saturday at Arizona - the fourth time in seven outings Teheran has permitted three hits or fewer. Teheran has struggled against Washington in 2018, going 0-1 in two starts with a 7.56 ERA and 11 hits allowed in just 8 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Braves 3B Johan Camargo (left groin tightness) did not play for the second consecutive game Friday, but is expected to return to the lineup this weekend.

2. Nationals OF Bryce Harper has 93 runs scored, 95 RBIs and 113 walks, as he attempts to become the sixth player since 2014 to reach 100 in all three categories.

3. Atlanta CF Ender Inciarte collected three hits and two runs scored Friday, and is batting .306 with 12 doubles and 19 runs scored in 52 games since the All-Star break.

PREDICTION: Braves 6, Nationals 4