Washington @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2012 ) Washington 1, Atlanta 2
Although the Washington Nationals hold a comfortable lead atop their division, they'd rather not lose any additional ground to the Atlanta Braves. Davey Johnson's club will look to even its three-game series with the second-place Braves on Saturday when the National League East rivals reconvene at Turner Field. Atlanta snapped a three-game skid and seized a series-opening 2-1 triumph after rookie Andrelton Simmons scored the winning run in the ninth after beating shortstop Ian Desmond's thrown home.
Despite suffering just its fourth loss in 16 contests, Washington still holds a 7 1/2-game lead over Atlanta. The Braves have been keyed by the spirited effort of Martin Prado, who collected his third three-hit game in his last six contests. Saturday starter Tommy Hanson has righted the ship after struggling briefly since coming off the disabled list with a lower back strain.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Edwin Jackson (9-10, 3.85 ERA) vs. Braves RH Tommy Hanson (12-8, 4.35)
Jackson saw his modest two-game winning streak come to an emphatic end after he permitted six runs on nine hits in 4 2/3 innings in an 8-0 loss to Miami on Sunday. The 29-year-old suffered a hard-luck loss to Atlanta on July 21 after allowing one run and striking out nine in seven innings.
Hunter will look to snap a three-game losing skid and post his first victory since July 30 when he takes the hill on Saturday. The 26-year-old allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings for the second straight start, but left with a no-decision versus the New York Mets on Sunday. Hunter is 3-3 in his career versus Washington, but was lit up for eight runs on as many hits in four innings in the Nationals' wild 11-10 victory on July 20.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta C Brian McCann, who enjoyed a rare day off on Friday, is expected to return to the lineup on Saturday.
2. Should the Nationals win on Saturday, they will secure their 90th victory of the season. That impressive number hasn't been reached in the nation's capital since the Senators accomplished the feat in 1933.
3. Washington's Michael Morse may be a spectator for the remainder of the series, Johnson said. Morse is dealing with an ailing left wrist.