Last Updated on April 11, 2016 3:11 pm by Brad Burns
Scherzer, Nats to extend Braves’ misery?
Atlanta has begun the 2016 season on an utterly horrendous note, but a division rival could actually increase the agony tonight.
The Braves visit the Nationals at 7:05 p.m. ET in a matchup of two teams on opposite sides of the NL East tracks. Oddsmakers at online sports book BetDSI recognize the hosts as 1.5-run favorites, with the over/under figure at eight runs.
Just as things were arguably brightening up on the offensive end, Atlanta’s pitching got mauled in Sunday’s series finale vs. St. Louis. The Cardinals clobbered Fredi Gonzalez’ arms for 10 hits in a 12-7 victory. There hasn’t been a worse start in Georgia since the 1988 group lost its first 10.
Conversely, the Nats (3-1) are on the upswing. On the heels of a 4-2 triumph over Miami, they hand the ball to ace Max Scherzer this evening. The veteran righty overcame solo homers by Freddie Freeman and Adonis Garcia to hand the Braves a 4-3 defeat in last week’s opener. He also threw a complete game at Turner Field in 2015.
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Gonzalez merely wants Bud Norris to repeat what he accomplished through six innings in his previous turn. The offseason addition had permitted one baserunner to reach second before the Nationals plated three in the seventh and ran away with the contest.
We’re skeptical about Norris’ ability to log as many frames tonight, and the fact that Atlanta now can’t count on outfielder Ender Inciarte (hamstring) to complement Freeman only complicates a muddied picture. Dusty Baker’s troops prevail, handily.
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