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Braves Seek Revenge Against Nationals in Series Opener
WASHINGTON – National League East rivals, the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals, are both eager to bounce back from recent struggles as they face off on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series. Both teams are looking to regain some momentum and move past their recent setbacks.
Recent Performances and Challenges
Atlanta Braves: The Braves are coming off a tough 9-0 shutout loss to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday, their first shutout since May 12, 2023. Despite a rough patch, with a 5-7 record in their last 12 games, the Braves are staying positive and focused on improvement.
“We’re definitely not panicking, and we’re just trying to get better each and every day,” said Braves left fielder Jarred Kelenic. “It’s OK to have a couple of bad stretches. The good thing is that we’re feeling good, and we’re just going to keep doing it.”
Washington Nationals: The Nationals were handed a 9-1 defeat by the New York Mets, completing a three-game sweep where they were outscored 23-11. The Nationals have struggled offensively, particularly in the later innings of games.
“Rough series,” said Nationals manager Dave Martinez. “But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We’ve got another tough team coming in. We’ve got to be ready to play tomorrow.”
Pitching Matchup
Reynaldo Lopez (Braves): Lopez (3-2, 1.73 ERA) has transitioned smoothly into the Braves’ rotation, allowing two runs or fewer in nine of his ten starts this season. In his last outing, Lopez struck out a season-high eight batters, allowing one run on four hits against the Oakland Athletics.
Mitchell Parker (Nationals): Parker (4-3, 3.60 ERA) has been consistent, allowing three runs in each of his last four games. He earned a win against the Braves on May 27, striking out six in 6 1/3 innings. Parker looks to bounce back from a 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians in his last start.
Key Player Updates
Jarred Kelenic (Braves): Kelenic avoided a significant injury after a diving catch scare, with X-rays on his wrist coming back negative. His availability will be crucial for the Braves.
CJ Abrams (Nationals): Abrams has been in a slump, going 1-for-21 over his past five games. The Nationals will need him to break out of this funk to boost their offensive output.
Series Outlook
The Braves are looking to avenge their series loss to the Nationals last week and gain ground in the division standings. Meanwhile, the Nationals aim to recover from their sweep by the Mets and find some consistency. The pitching duel between Lopez and Parker will be key, as both pitchers have shown flashes of brilliance this season. Fans can expect a fiercely competitive series as both teams strive to turn their fortunes around.
