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Series Preview: 4/4 – 4/6 : Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals

By Brandon Woodworth

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Welcome to another Series Preview Braves fans!

Hoping to take their 2-1 series win against Milwaukee in stride, your Atlanta Braves head east to our nations capital to take on the division rivals Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals.  This will be the first time the Braves have faced the Nationals under new manager Matt Williams.

Game 1:

 1:05 EST, 4/4, Friday

Probables: David Hale vs ???

Game 2:

7:05 EST, 4/5, Saturday

Probables:  Julio Teheran (0-1, 3.00 ERA) vs Stephen Strausburg (0-0, 6.00 ERA)

Game 3:

1:35 EST, 4/6, Sunday

Probables:  Alex Wood (1-0, 1.29 ERA) vs Taylor Jordan

Things To Look For:

  • Jordan Zimmermann, initially slated to start today’s (Thursday’s) game against the New York Mets, has fallen ill with the flu.  The Nationals bumped Tanner Roark, Friday’s starter, to today in hopes that Zimmerman will be healthy enough to start tomorrow.  If not, Matt Williams could be forced to use his bullpen, which features former starter Ross Detwiler, to eat tomorrow’s innings.  Detwiler has not pitched in over a week, so he may not be expected to throw any more than 4 innings in this situation.  Taylor Jordan is unavailable after throwing a simulated game on Tuesday in preparation for Sunday.
  • Matt Williams seems to be tinkering with his lineup early this season, maybe even more so than Fredi Gonzalez.  Williams has hit Bryce Harper, Ian Desmond, Adam LaRoche, Jayson Werth, and Ryan Zimmerman in at least 2 different spots in the order through their first 3 games.
  • Rookie David Hale is getting his first Major League look at the Nationals.  Hale had an excellent 11 inning cameo in the show last year, but struggled a bit in Spring.  The Braves’ makeshift rotation is working smoothly thus far, and Hale is the last piece of tape.  His performance could be a big sign of things to come for Atlanta this season.
  • B.J. Upton is once again under fire, after tallying only 1 hit in his first 12 plate appearances that included 6 strikeouts.  If this carries over, look for a potential lineup shakeup to help take pressure off of Upton.
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