The last time the Nationals faced the Braves, the vibes were low. They were carrying a five game losing streak that carried on another two games. This time, the Nationals are riding high following a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles. Can they get the job done against a hot Braves team?
Although Jacob Young was originally in the lineup, he got scratched, with his shoulder still bothering him. That means we will see Dylan Crews in center field and Alex Call in right. The dynamic top two of CJ Abrams and James Wood kick things off, but they need support from the rest of the lineup. Mitchell Parker will face the Braves for a second straight start.
The Braves welcome back ace Spencer Strider, who is returning from a hamstring injury. He missed most of 2024 after an internal brace procedure on his elbow, and only made one start before his hamstring issue. It will be interesting to see how he looks.
In the lineup, the Braves are running out a familiar unit. Alex Verdugo is leading off, with a lot of the classic Braves big guns behind him. Sean Murphy will be getting the start behind the plate, not rookie sensation Drake Baldwin.
Game Info:
Stadium: Nationals Park
Time: 6:45
TV: MASN
Radio: 106.7 The Fan and DC 87.7
The Nationals are looking to keep up their momentum from the weekend, but it will be tougher to do against stiffer opposition. Comment your thoughts down below, and of course, Let’s Go Nats!