After his nasty collision with Jean Segura on Sunday afternoon, when Ronald Acuña didn’t return to the field in the bottom of the seventh inning, there was legitimate cause for concern about whether he would need any time off.
Worry not, Braves fans. The wunderkind is back at the top of the lineup for the first game of the most crucial series of the year.
.@kidkeuchy takes the mound tonight in DC!#ChopOn pic.twitter.com/eDmLSacnPI
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 29, 2025
The Braves are stacking their righties against Patrick Corbin, who has been brutal against lefties this year (.187/.240/.270). Adam Duvall will man right field and bat fifth, and Austin Riley bats seventh as he gets the nod in left - this will be a huge, albeit difficult, chance for Riley to restore the organization’s faith in him. Tyler Flowers will start over Brian McCann, a logical handedness-based switcheroo, and John Camargo gets his fifth consecutive start at short for the ailing Dansby Swanson.
Dave Martinez will align his Nationals lineup as such:
Patrick Corbin in his last 7 starts:
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) July 29, 2025
45 IP
1.60 ERA
1.022 WHIP
57 Ks
NL best 1.9 WAR#StPatricksDay // #OnePursuit pic.twitter.com/dOGNhy1PAH
Perpetual pest Trea Turner will lead off, and Yan Gomes will catch Corbin. Keuchel faced a very similar lineup on June 21, which was his Braves debut, and allowed three runs over five innings. With this being his eighth start of the year, he is considerably more stretched out, and can hopefully keep the Nats’ potent lineup in check.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm ET.
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