Atlanta @ Washington preview
Nationals Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2012 ) Atlanta 11, Washington 10
The Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday. Considering the nature of Friday's chaotic series opener, the National League East rivals may feel like they've already played a twinbill. Atlanta rallied from a nine-run deficit to seize a one-run lead before stud closer Craig Kimbrel yielded a solo homer to Danny Espinosa to force extra innings. Paul Janish plated Dan Uggla with an RBI single in the 11th inning to hand the Braves a wild 11-10 victory.
The two-game swing in the standings pulled second-place Atlanta to within 2 1/2 games of Washington. The Braves could find themselves within a half-game of the division lead should they ride the momentum of Friday's series opener into a doubleheader sweep. The victory was Atlanta's third in nine meetings against Washington.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, PTV (Atlanta), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Ben Sheets (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Edwin Jackson (5-5, 3.89)
After a two-year absence, Sheets made quite the return to the majors after scattering two hits over six sizzling innings in a 6-1 win over the New York Mets on Sunday. The 34-year-old missed all of the 2011 season following ligament replacement surgery. Sheets, who is 3-3 in his career versus Washington, can level his career record at 92-92 with a victory on Saturday.
Jackson has faced Atlanta on four different occasions in his career, but has yet to secure a decision. The 28-year-old has struggled in his last three trips to the mound, permitting 16 runs, 21 hits and six walks. Jackson allowed four runs in five innings in a 5-3 loss to Miami on Monday.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez announced that veteran 3B Chipper Jones will not be in the starting lineup for the first game - while C Brian McCann will not start the nightcap.
2. Ryan Zimmerman homered for the second straight contest as his three-run blast gave Washington a 6-0 lead. Zimmerman is hitless in four career at-bats versus Sheets and 1-for-2 against Randall Delgado.
3. Dan Uggla has been struggling at the plate, but his first three-hit performance in six weeks is a step in the right direction. Uggla is 0-for-10 in his career versus Jackson, but a decidedly better 9-for-24 against John Lannan.