Atlanta @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 8, 2019 ) Washington 9, Atlanta 4

The Washington Nationals have one last desperate shot to try and get back into the National League East race as they host the Atlanta Braves for a three-game series beginning Friday, and hope the results are better than last weekend’s matchup. The division-leading Braves took three of four from the Nationals in Atlanta and come into Friday with an 8 1/2-game advantage in the standings after splitting four contests in Philadelphia, even after the Nationals beat Minnesota 12-6 on Thursday.

Washington left fielder Juan Soto hit his 34th homer of the season Thursday, giving him 56 longballs in 250 career games and four in 11 games this month. Third baseman Anthony Rendon, who leads the majors with a .335 batting average, went 2-for-3 with his 33rd homer and three RBIs - tying him with Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman for the major-league lead with 117. Atlanta enters the weekend winners of 19 of its past 24 games, and 21-year-old outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. continues his pursuit of becoming the fifth player in major league history to have a 40-40 season after stealing two bases (giving him 36) and hitting his 39th homer in Thursday’s 9-5 defeat. Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies homered and doubled in the loss, giving the 22-year-old his second consecutive 40-double, 20-homer season.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Soroka (11-4, 2.67 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Max Scherzer (10-5, 2.56)

One area of concern for the Braves is that Soroka, who leads the National League in homers allowed per nine innings (0.73), has surrendered five longballs in 11 innings across his first two September starts. The 22-year-old gave up three homers Sunday against the Nationals, permitting four runs on seven hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over six innings to lose for the second time in his past three starts. Soroka, who is 2-3 in 11 second-half starts despite a 2.99 ERA, is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts against Washington this season.

Scherzer dominated the Braves on Sunday to help the Nationals salvage one win in a four-game series, striking out nine with two walks while allowing one run on two hits over six innings. The 35-year-old has made four starts since returning from a month-long absence due to a back injury, giving up two runs or fewer three times while striking out at least seven on three occasions. Scherzer, who went 7-0 with 79 strikeouts and a 0.87 ERA in a seven-start stretch from June 2-July 6, is 3-4 with a 2.82 ERA in 13 home starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Homers from Acuna, Albies and OF Adam Duvall on Thursday gave the Braves 234 longballs on the season, just one shy of the franchise record set in 2003.

2. The Nationals have won three of their past four contests after dropping five of the previous six, and hold a 3 1/2-game lead for the top NL wild-card spot.

3. The Braves activated LHP Grant Dayton (fractured right big toe) from the injured list Thursday and placed LHP A.J. Minter on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Braves 1