The Atlanta Braves, led by Ronald Acuna Jr.’s MVP-type numbers, will go for his or her eighth straight win and a three-game sweep of the visiting Washington Nationals on Sunday
The Braves received the primary two video games, 3-2 on Friday and 6-4 on Saturday, and improved to 4-1 in opposition to Washington this season. Atlanta has come from behind to win its final six video games and is the primary Nationwide League workforce to win 40 video games
The pitching matchups for the collection finale characteristic two right-handers — Atlanta’s Bryce Elder (4-0, 2.26 ERA) in opposition to Washington’s Trevor Williams (2-4, 4.15).
Acuna went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a house run on Saturday. In the course of the homestand he’s hitting .364 (8-for-22) with three doubles, one homer, 5 RBIs, three runs and two stolen bases. For the season, Acuna is hitting .333 with 13 homers, 37 RBIs and 28 stolen bases.
“I am in all probability enjoying the most effective baseball of my big-league profession,” Acuna stated. “I believe I might play higher. A very powerful factor is to remain wholesome.”
Acuna had his seven-game hitting streak finish on Friday however has reached base in 57 of 64 video games this season. He ranks among the many high 10 within the main leagues in batting common, steals, whole bases, runs, multi-hit video games, hits, extra-base hits, doubles, on-base share and slugging share.
The Atlanta lineup has gotten stronger with the offensive turnaround skilled by Marcell Ozuna. He was hitting .073 on April 24 and seemed to be on the verge of being launched. However during the last 30 video games, he’s hitting .306 and has lifted his batting common to .236 with 13 homers and 29 RBIs.
“It lengthens the lineup when you have got a presence like Marcell,” Atlanta supervisor Brian Snitker stated. “To have that bat within the center is de facto good. And what Ronald is doing is loopy.”
Washington supervisor Dave Martinez stated his lineup must be extra aggressive on good pitches.
“It is laborious to hit, however if you get to 0-2, it is actually laborious to hit,” Martinez stated.
That hasn’t been an issue for Joey Meneses, who went 2-for-4 on Saturday and has reached base safely in a career-high 17 straight video games. Meneses is hitting .364 (24-for-66) throughout the streak.
Elder will make his thirteenth begin of the season. In his final outing on Tuesday in opposition to the New York Mets, he received the victory by pitching six innings and permitting 4 runs on 4 hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.
Elder has not confronted the Nationals this season. He made three begins in opposition to Washington a 12 months in the past and went 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA. He beat them 8-0 on Sept. 26, 2022, by pitching a complete-game shutout
Williams is a veteran who will make his thirteenth begin of the season. In his final outing final Sunday in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies, Williams took the loss after giving up 4 runs on six hits with 4 walks and 6 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings.
In eight profession video games (4 begins) in opposition to the Braves, Williams is 1-1 with a 3.28 ERA. He made two reduction appearances in opposition to Atlanta final season and final began in opposition to the Braves in 2021
–Discipline Stage Media
