In what could be argued as one of the most complete team series all year, the Atlanta Braves have won three straight games against the Washington Nationals and are looking for their fourth straight win this afternoon.
Hurston Waldrep will be taking the mound for the Braves. His first seven starts this season were lights out. So much so that BetMGM has him as having the ninth best odds for winning ROY. In his first seven starts this season he only allowed a total of six earned runs which equated to a 1.33
ERA while accumulating thirty-eight strikeouts to sixteen walks.
His last start was not exactly one that he would like to happen again anytime soon. Against the Astros he lasted 4.2 innings and gave up eight earned runs on eight hits and two walks. This afternoon he will be facing the Nationals for the first time this season. The Nationals are the team he faced for his MLB debut last season that did not go as planned where he gave up seven earned runs. That was before he had his elite splitter locked down.
Although he faced the Nationals last season, only three players on the current roster faced him. CJ Abrams was hitless in two at-bats, Luis García had one hit in two at-bats, and Jacob young did not get a hit, but was walked once. Of course, these are extremely small sample sizes so we cannot draw much from them, but it is interesting to see.
Brad Lord will be pitching for the Nationals. He currently has a 4.21 ERA, 3.93 FIP, and a 2.46 SO/BB ratio over 115.1 innings this season. He has quietly had a solid rookie season. He has fluctuated as a starter and a reliever all season long but has settled in as a full-time starter at the end of July. Since that time, he has made ten starts and has struggled to a 5.19 ERA in 50.1 innings while surrendering seven HRs and fifty-three hits.
Lord has faced the Braves three times this season, but they were all in relief. On May Thirteenth he gave up two ERs and five hits in his 2.0 innings but in his other two appearances against the Braves he totaled 3.0 innings and only gave up two hits and zero ERs.
Ozzie Albies had the best fortune against him in his limited action. In his three at-bats against Lord he had two hits. Baldwin, Ozuna, and White all have a hit against Lord in their two at-bats. Olson, Harris, and Allen (who likely won’t start) were unable to get on base.
The Braves don’t have much to play for as the season is winding down but keep an eye on Matt Olson who has been red hot and leads all MLB first basemen in fWAR and SABR Defensive Rating (SDI), and Drake Baldwin who has the second-best odds off winning NL ROTY according to BetMGM.
First pitch is at 4:05 EDT.
Game Notes
Time: Wednesday, September 17 at 4:05 p.m. EDT
Location: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
TV: FanDuel Sports Network South/Southeast
Streaming: MLB.TV audio
Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan
