The Nationals of Washington, finally free from their losses sequence, will seek to win a split in their four -game road series against the Braves of Atlanta on Thursday.
After abandoning the first two games – and extended their slippage to a seven -game season season – the Nationals rallied for a 5-4 victory on Wednesday evening.
Washington will send the right-hander Trevor Williams (2-4, 5.88 ERA) to face the right-hander of Atlanta Aj Smith-Shawver (2-2, 2.76) in the final.
Williams will seek to bounce back after three lower quality outings in which he posted a 1-2 file and an MPM of 7.02. The last time, he made a defeat against the Cardinals of Saint-Louis, abandoning four points in seven strokes in six rounds on Saturday.
“The great thing with Trevor, he walked a striker and struck a guy (in four points of four points) and it was then that things started,” said manager Dave Martinez. “He didn’t do that after that. He sort of installed himself, he got out, he got the ball on the ground. He gave us six sleeves, which was great.”
Williams, 33, has a 3-1 file with an MPM of 3.26 in 11 career games, including seven beginnings, against Atlanta.
Smith-Shawver, 22, has been stellar this season. He abandoned two or less points in five of his six departures, including eight -strokes of a ball at once against the Reds of Cincinnati on May 5. During his last departure, he gave one point on five strokes in 5 2/3 innings of non-decision against Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
“I think that if I keep the right state of mind and keep myself in the right head space and take care of the right way, I think that is when the results are the best,” said Smith-Shawver.
He launched 5 1/3 of sleeves and authorized only two points, both unprecedented, during his only previous departure against Washington, a decision without decision in June 2023.
Wednesday evening, the start of Atlanta Bryce Elder left with a 4-1 lead, but the enclosure of the Braves could not hold it back. Washington rallied for two points in the seventh and two others in the eighth.
James Wood has doubled at home the green light race for the Nationals, whose skipping of seven games has been the longest of the team since nine games from July 7 to 16, 2022.
“This victory was great,” said Martinez. “Put one on the set for good, how do you mean?
Washington’s CJ Abrams managed two strokes and two goals on bullets, and Kyle Finnegan, closer, recovered by allowing a simple ninth to record his 13th stop.
The Nationals won despite three runners thrown on the basics.
Stuart Farchild from Atlanta went 2 for 3 with a double RBI, a walk, two points and a stolen base. He broke a slip of 0 for 18 dating from April 10 and added two assists.
The brave has scored five or less in each of their last 14 games – 11 of which have been decided by one point. Atlanta spent 7-7 while making an average of 3.1 points per game during the section.
The right-handed Starter of the Braves injured Spencer Strider (hamstrings) launched 65 throws in a simulated match in Atlanta on Wednesday. It could start a rehabilitation of minor leagues or even join the rotation of major leagues next week in Washington.
“We are all going to meet and understand what we are going to do next,” said launcher coach Rick Kranitz.
– field level media
