Braves at Nationals Preview - Bobby's Final Road Series

Well, here we are folks. I honestly can't believe we've already played 153 games. It seems like just yesterday we had miserably lost our last nine games, and the debut of Jason Heyward seems even further away. And you know, I'm not ready for the season to end. We have nine games left if we don't make the post-season. Nine more games until next April. Nine. I'm not ready for the season to end. It's time to step up for Bobby, Chipper, Wagner, and every other player and fan of the Atlanta Braves.

As for Bobby, I can't believe this really is the final regular-season road trip that he'll ever make. It's weird. All I've ever known in my years of being a Braves fan was good 'ol number 6 on the top step of the dugout with his immortal, "COMEON KID!" or his endless nicknames for all of our hitters.

We owe it to Bobby to fight back. This season isn't over, and we're still a good team. Let's get it done this weekend.

Not much has changed since the Braves saw the Nationals in Atlanta last week. They are on pace for their best season in three years, and they've won 3 in a row. Here's the offense:

Runs: 635 (12th)
BA: .255 (8th)
OBP: .321 (11th)
SLG: .398 (11th)
HR: 143 (10th)
SB: 106 (3rd)
BB/K: 0.41 (12th)

Still not very good. You know the Nats, but I'll go over them for the 5th time this year. (That's not being sarcastic either. This is the 5th Nats/Braves series I've covered this season.) Anyways, Adam Dunn continues to be one of the most underrated players in baseball, and has some ridiculous power (.275 ISO). Ryan Zimmerman is just as great in the field as he is at the plate (.899OPS, .398wOBA)  and would be an MVP candidate if the Nationals were any good. Danny Espinosa continues to impress during his brief stint with the team, and Mike Morse is having a solid season. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez is great behind the plate, and if Roger Bernadina comes up with the bases loaded, we might as well just walk him as he has two grand slams in three ABs. Nyjer Morgan is currently serving his 8 game suspension for his brief attempt at an MMA career.

Pitching Match-Ups:

Friday, 7:05EST:

Hudson was struggling for a little while, and all of the stat-heads immediately started with their, "HE'S NOT THAT GOOD!!" crap. Fortunately for the Braves, Hudson stepped up in his last start against the Mets and looked like the Huddy of old. Tim has a great history against Washington, and I fully expect him to be the same tonight.

Zimmerman projects as a #2 starter one day, but he's been slowed by injuries throughout his career. Zimmerman is coming off of Tommy John Surgery, and he's really struggled since coming back. This doesn't mean the Braves should take him lightly though. Zimmerman still has solid stuff, and we all know how the Braves usually fare against young, relative no-name pitchers.

Saturday, 1:05EST:

Derek Lowe has been our best starting pitcher in the last few weeks, and we'll need him to come up big once again. Lowe faced the Mets in his last start and pitched well. Fortunately for him, the offense woke up just in time and Lowe recorded his 14th win of the year. And let's not forget what our $15M dollar ace did the last time he faced the Nats: 12 strikeouts, baby! Same thing this time around, alright?

Yunesky Maya has been pretty awful since becoming a starter, but he pitched pretty well against the Braves in his last start. He gave up three runs early in the game, but ended up going six innings against us and recorded the all-telling "quality start." Maya was pounded in his last start against the Phillies.

Sunday, 1:35EST:

This whole game is kind of odd. As of right now, Jurrjens is scheduled to pitch, but all eyes will be on him and his bad knee. Jair has a small, horizontal tear in his meniscus, and expects to make the start. I'm sure the Braves will take a wait-and-see approach with him though. Heck, they scratched him just hours before the Phillies game last Monday and I'm sure they'd do the same if it's going to risk his future ability.

The Nationals haven't announced a starter, but I'm guessing it'll be Livan Hernandez. Ugh. Livan always kills us. Maybe there's something about his 86mph fastball, but we just can't hit him. It's maddening. Some good news for the Braves is that Hernandez got pounded by the Astros in his last start, and he took the 8-2 loss.

Bullpen:

The Nats finally have a solid bullpen, and it's led by a young bunch of hard-throwing relievers. Closer Drew Storren has filthy stuff, but can be wild at times. Set-up man Tyler Clippard has been great for Washington in 2010. Middle relievers Joel Peralta, Sean Burnett, Doug Slaten and Tyler Walker have all been solid for the Nats, and journeyman reliever Miguel Batista has been pretty good when he pitches long-relief. All-in-all, a solid bunch.

Prediction:

Well...who knows? I mean, this team has been so up-and-down for the last month that we can just hope at this point. I do like the pitching match-ups, but that doesn't even mean anything anymore. I just hope we send Bobby out in style on the road.

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Well folks, that's it for me this season with the Series Previews. I know some of you and I haven't always agreed, but that's what makes Talking Chop so great. It's a place where Braves fans across the world can come to chat about our team, and even learn a thing or two in the process. I've had a great time this year, and hope to do it next year as well.

Go Braves.