Strasburg, Nationals hope to avoid sweep in Atlanta (May 21, 2017)
ATLANTA -- Stephen Strasburg struck out just three batters in his most recent start, and the Washington Nationals right-hander is averaging a career-low 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings this year.
Strasburg, though, fanned a season-best 10 in seven innings in a victory at SunTrust Park on April 20, and he will get a chance to continue his domination of Atlanta on Sunday as the Nationals try to prevent the Braves from sweeping the three-game series.
Strasburg, who will be opposed by Jaime Garcia, is 6-1 with a 2.33 ERA in his past eight starts against the Braves. For his career, he is 9-8 with a 3.78 ERA in 24 starts versus Atlanta.
The Nationals (25-17) have lost four straight and seven of their past eight on the road. The Braves (18-22) have won seven of their past nine games.
Washington needs length out of starters with the bullpen taxed and struggling. However, Strasburg (4-1, 3.42 ERA) has gone six innings or fewer in his past three starts after pitching seven innings in each of his first five outings.
"The starters know that the bullpen is spent," Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. "The great ones I've seen, they know what's at stake."
Strasburg said he was "grinding through it all night" in an 8-4 victory at Pittsburgh on Tuesday, and he has given up eight runs over 12 innings in his past two starts.
Strasburg, though, was sharp in his earlier start against the Braves this season, allowing six hits and two runs to get the win. He had two walks to go with his 10 strikeouts.
"Like I keep telling you, somebody has to pick up nine innings," Baker said. "There are only so many moves you can make, only so many people that are qualified to be called up."
The Braves expect to have Matt Adams available on Sunday after obtaining the left-handed-hitting first baseman and cash considerations from the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday in exchange for 19-year-old infield prospect Juan Yepez.
Adams, batting .292 with a homer and seven RBIs, helps the Braves cover for the loss of first baseman Freddie Freeman, who will miss about 10 weeks because of a broken wrist he sustained Wednesday.
"I think our ownership really stepped forward here to take on money and get a really good player," Braves general manager John Coppolella said. "We're trying to win right now."
Adams, 28, has a .271 career average with 56 homers and 217 RBIs in 486 games, all with St. Louis. His salary is $2.8 million this season, and he will be arbitration-eligible in 2018.
Adams will play frequently until Freeman returns, although he may sit against left-handed pitchers.
"He will have a chance to play a bunch early," Coppolella said. "We will face all right-handers the rest of the homestand. ...
"He's also played left field. He's a good bat off the bench. He will help us even when Freddie Freeman comes back."
The Braves hope Garcia (1-2, 4.65 ERA) can build off the success he had against the Nationals while pitching for St. Louis, when he was 5-2 with a 3.21 ERA in eight outings.
The left-hander was acquired from the Cardinals over the winter and has made just one official start at SunTrust Park, with a second rained out.
Garcia worked a season-best 6 1/3 innings at home on April 17 against the San Diego Padres, getting a no-decision.
"After nine years in St. Louis, everything is new to me," Garcia said. "I don't spend any time thinking about the ballpark or anything like that. I just try to prepare myself for everything and anything."
