Game Preview: Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals (Game 1)

Tuesday, July 27 – 7:05 (SportSouth)
Atlanta Braves (57-41) vs. Washington Nationals (42-57)

Tommy Hanson
(4.12 ERA, 4.05 xFIP, 2.93 BB/9, 9.03 K/9, 9.7 SwStr%)
(Career vs. WAS: 5 GS, 2-0, 2.94 ERA, 6 BB, 35 K)
vs.
Stephen Strasburg
(2.32 ERA, 2.15 xFIP, 2.48 BB/9, 12.42 K/9, 13.1 SwStr%)
(Career vs. ATL: 1 GS, 0-1, 4.26 ERA, 2 BB, 7 K)

Braves vs. Strasburg:
Melky Cabrera: 1-3, 2B
Troy Glaus: 0-2, BB
Eric Hinske: 0-2, RBI, 2 K
Chipper Jones: 1-2, BB
Brian McCann: 2-3, K
Martin Prado: 0-3, K

Nationals vs. Hanson:
Adam Dunn: 1-11, HR, RBI, 4 BB, 6 K
Ryan Zimmerman: 2-11, 2B, 3 RBI, 5 K
Nyjer Morgan: 5-10, 2 2B, RBI, K
Ian Desmond: 2-9, HR, RBI, K
Willie Harris: 4-9, RBI, K
Josh Willingham: 0-9, 4 K
Wil Nieves: 2-7, BB, 2 K
Cristian Guzman: 2-7, 2 K
Alberto Gonzalez: 2-6, 2B
Ivan Rodriguez: 2-3, 2B, RBI, K

What to Look For:
A great pitching matchup. This game should be nationally followed for the two arms that will be featured. Hanson allowed two runs in six-plus innings in his last start against the Padres, seeming to find a groove and looking really good in the later innings. He didn’t have a great outing against the Nationals the last time he faced them in May, allowing four runs on nine hits in six innings, but he holds a 2-0 record and 2.94 ERA in five starts against them. We all know about Strasburg and what he does. Perhaps what struck me the most in his first start against the Braves was how Braves hitters weren’t sitting back in awe of his stuff like the previous teams. They went after him with a gameplan and made him work, sweating out six-plus tough innings and getting tagged with a loss, whether it was his fault or not. They need to come with the same intensity tonight.

My Take on the Opposition:
We know about Strasburg so there’s no need for me to explain what makes this a good matchup from his side. He gave up three earned runs in his last start for the first time since doing so against the Braves in late June, giving up seven hits in five-plus innings against the Reds, though he did walk just one and strike out seven. Along with bad luck on Strasburg’s part, the Braves were the first team to really put pressure on him and make him work instead of being dumbfounded by his stuff. He has a ridiculous K/BB of FIVE and is striking out over 12 per nine innings, sporting a 2.15 xFIP.

Game Notes:
Per DOB: Stephen Strasburg has been scratched tonight. No word yet on why, but he showed discomfort in warmups. The Strasburg-Hanson matchup will have to wait, as will the Strasburg-Heyward matchup.