TRUIST PARK | Atlanta, Georgia; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
We saw some promising signs from Patrick Corbin five days ago in his previous start for the Washington Nationals. He had his slider working for 6.0 innings but hit the wall and fell apart when he came out for the seventh inning. Of course, Corbin is still basically a two-pitch hurler and that has been an issue when his slider isn’t biting. When the slider looks like the fastball — until it takes a right turn, Corbin looks like the star from 2019 and previous seasons. It is a devastating swing and miss pitch for opposing batters when the slider is biting. In 2019, Corbin’s slider was rated as the fourth most valuable pitch in baseball.
Corbin and the Nats will go against lefty Max Fried who has figured out some of his mechanics. The Nats will play this game without Juan Soto, and Nats’ manager will give Josh Bell his first outfield start since his rookie season in 2016 when he had all of seven complete games in rightfield.
With Bell playing in the outfield, Martinez is able to play Ryan Zimmerman at first base and stack a few more righties in there with just Yadiel Hernandez and Luis Garcia as the position players swinging bats from the left side.
Last night’s star, Riley Adams, will come off the bench as will Soto who is available again as a pinch-hitter. The Nats travel to New York after the game to face the Mets.
Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves
Stadium: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
1st Pitch: 1:20 pm EDT
TV: MASN, Bally Sports South, MLB.TV
Nats Radio: 106.7 FM The Fan; SiriusXM® ( Streaming Internet 869)
Line-ups subject to change without notice:
1. Victor Robles – CF
2. Alcides Escobar – SS
3. Ryan Zimmerman – 1B
4. Josh Bell – RF
5. Yadiel Hernandez – LF
6. Carter Kieboom – 3B
7. Tres Barrera – C
8. Luis Garcia – 2B
9. Patrick Corbin – LHP
