MLB Preview: Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals
On Monday the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals play the first of what could be a key three game series for both teams. Or at least that’s how the script *should* have read. Instead the Nationals are bumbling through a season full of injuries and underachievement while the Atlanta Braves are running away with the NL East. The Braves enter this series having won 10 straight games to take a 12.5 game advantage over the second place Nationals. Washington isn’t playing badly-six wins in their last 10 games-but that pace isn’t going to be enough to run down Atlanta atop the division. Both teams played road games this weekend so that doesn’t help the Nationals either. In fact, they could be more fatigued than Atlanta who has the quick jaunt from Philadelphia to the Nation’s Capitol while Washington played at Milwaukee.
Stephen Strasburg gets the start here and although he’s pitched well this season he’s also suffered due to the Nationals’ erratic play. Strasburg’s overall ERA is 3.14 and at home he’s posted an even more impressive ERA of 1.68. The problem is that his teammates have provided little in the way of run support. Washington has lost 14 of Strasburg’s 21 starts this season including 7 of 11 at home. They’ve also lost his last three starts despite Strasburg pitching very well in two of those games-he allowed 5 ER last time out at Detroit but in the previous two assignments allowed only a total of 3 ER and the Nats managed to lose both games.
Atlanta will go with lefthander Mike Minor who may be the ‘unsung hero’ of the Braves’ rotation. Minor has a 2.75 ERA overall, a 2.47 ERA on the road and his L3 ERA is even better at 1.23 with a ridiculous 0.591 WHIP. The Braves have won 15 of his 22 starts overall including 7 of 10 on the road. Translation-although he doesn’t have the big name of his opponent today Mr. Strasburg he’s pitched better this year and his team has converted his effort into victories.
That’s why we’re backing the Braves-nothing but respect for Strasburg but his teammates have held up their end of the bargain this season. Minor, on the other hand, has pitched well and the Braves have won when he does. More importantly, we don’t want to get in front of the Braves’ freight train at this point.
BET ATLANTA BRAVES (MINOR) +120 OVER WASHINGTON NATIONALS (STRASBURG)