Monday Quickie - Braves again

Real short bc work

The weekend series didn't go well but the end result of the 7 games - 4-3 vs Rockies and Dodgers - is what a WC Nats team wanted. Right now they are sitting exactly where they should be in this run. They lost an extra game to the Orioles but were able to split the Braves series in Atlanta. If they beat the Braves they'll accomplish two things (1) they will go through this 16 game stretch at 9-7 which was the goal and (2) they'll have won 4 out of the 7 games against Atlanta.  The latter isn't enough to start thinking about the division but is a game more than planned which is nice.

Even losing to Atlanta isn't a big deal.  Go 1-2 and well they are just a game off in likely the hardest 16 game stretch of the season and they went 3-4 vs Atlanta which is what was expected going in.

Now an Atlanta sweep? Ok that's bothersome but worry about that if you go down 0-2, not before.

Of course the big news of the weekend is Max looks like he's going to miss another start and the season gets that much harder when you are replacing Max with a rando 5th guy.  Adding to that is the Nats could pretty accurately set themselves as WC favorites with Max in the rotation, given how they've played the last 60 games, where they stand now, and what the schedule looks like going forward. But without Max? Who knows? And if you can't accurately set yourself then how do you approach the trade deadline?

Braves bats have been hotter than not this past week. Pitching more guys doing well than not. They went 2-3 but lost a couple close games and a big one that could be put on a poorly performing Gausman who won't be pitching the Nats series

Match-Ups

Keuchel vs Corbin - Keuchel had a nice start in his last go, but Corbin was better and has been really good for a month and a half now.  He and Stras can't do much about the 5th starter innings but are filling in the Max ace role. This favors Nats

Teheran vs ??? - Max or no Max I'm giving this to the Braves. Teheran is on a run, and when he's on a run he's very good. Max would be pitching on a weird rest pattern and on a short leash if he does go. More likely he doesn't and anyone else is a clear step down.

Soroka vs Sanchez -Last starts were flipped experiences.  Soroka cruised until the 5th where he couldn't get out of it. He luckily only gave up a run but it was on the brink of being blown open.  Sanchez was almost beat in the very first inning against the Dodgers, also snuck out with a run, and then dominated.  You like Soroka better than Sanchez but not by much.

2-1 Braves is the call, but 2-1 Nats is clearly in play, especially if they win the first game as expected.