Game #63 First pitch marks 100 games remaining. Strasburg as the stopper. Gott for extra reliever.

The start of today’s game marks the point for the Washington Nationals as they start the countdown from 100 games to the end of the regular season. The Nationals face their familiar team to the south from Atlanta. Stephen Strasburg has the chance to be the stopper for the Washington Nationals and he faces righty Mike Flotynewicz.

The Nationals and Braves both had a tough weekend, but the Braves think they found a new ace as Sean Newcomb lost while giving up 1 unearned run against the Mets on Saturday. The Braves have put in extra work since Saturday when they played a doubleheader.

Both teams are feeling the heat as the Braves are now 8 games under .500 and the optimism they had just 2 weeks ago of being a Wild Card contender is now waning.

Dusty Baker is dealing with two issues in his bullpen and placed Koda Glover on the DL and reportedly his patience is being tested with Shawn Kelley who Baker is using sparingly while watching him continuously blowing games. That led an organizational decision to bring up Trevor Gott today with the corresponding move to send a bench player, Wilmer Difo, back to the Minor Leagues. That means the Nationals will play with either a 3 or 4 man bench depending on the “true” health of Ryan Zimmerman who will not be starting again tonight.

“I can’t see me not playing on Monday,” Ryan Zimmerman said on Saturday.

I guess Ryan can’t see well unless he pinch-hits later.

Here are how the Nats players match-up against Foltynewicz:


Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals
Stadium: Nationals Park, South Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC
1st Pitch:  7:05 pm EDT
TV: MASN, FOX Southeast , MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® XM 81 Sirius 81 (Internet 869)

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