The Atlanta Braves return home tonight to face the Washington Nationals who are 2-8 in their last 10 and 6-20 in their last 26 road games. Atlanta holds a slim 1-1/2 game lead over the Phillies for the top spot in the NL East but that should change. Following Washington, the Braves will host the 57-80 Miami Marlins and the 63-74 Colorado Rockies. The expected starters for tonight’s game are Atlanta’s Max Fried and Washington’s Paola Espino. Fried is 11-7 with a 3.51 ERA and was dominant in his last turn against the Nationals, in the Braves 12-2 win. Espino is 4-4 with a 4.08 ERA and is 0-1 against Atlanta with a 5.00 ERA. The Braves are 12-4 this year against the Nats, 5-0 in their last 5 following a day off, and 14-3 in their last 17 against a team with a losing record.
TONIGHT’S PICK: ATLANTA BRAVES