Series Preview: Washington Nationals face first-place Atlanta Braves

The Washington Nationals (25-26, 10 GB, NL East) will face the Atlanta Braves (35-16, first place, NL East) in a four-game series that begins on Friday.

Schedule

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Game 1: Friday, 7:15 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• WAS: Richard Lovelady (2-2, 2.61 ERA, 1.65 WHIP)
• ATL: Bryce Elder (4-2, 2.01 ERA, 0.99 WHIP)

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Game 2: Saturday, 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• WAS: Jake Irvin (1-4, 5.59 ERA, 1.46 WHIP)
• ATL: Grant Holmes (3-1, 3.80 ERA, 1.27 WHIP)

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Game 3: Sunday, 4:10 p.m. (MLB.TV)

• WAS: Foster Griffin (5-2, 4.02 ERA, 1.18 WHIP)
• ATL: Martin Perez (2-2, 2.85 ERA, 1.00 WHIP)

Bats to watch

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Washington Nationals

• SS CJ Abrams: 10 HRs, 42 RBIs, .297 BA/.924 OPS, 1.8 WAR
• RF James Wood: 13 HRs, 34 RBIs, .254 BA/.913 OPS, 1.5 WAR
• LF Daylen Lile: 7 HRs, 26 RBIs, .269 BA/.767 OPS, 1.1 WAR

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Atlanta Braves

• 1B Matt Olson: 14 HRs, 42 RBIs, .274 BA/.921 OPS, 2.4 WAR
• C Drake Baldwin: 13 HRs, 38 RBIs, .303 BA/.931 OPS, 2.3 WAR
• CF Michael Harris II: 11 HRs, 29 RBIs, .298 BA/.848 OPS, 1.7 WAR
• 2B Ozzie Albies: 8 HRs, 27 RBIs, .276 BA/.772 OPS, 1.7 WAR