The visiting Atlanta Braves will try to complete a much-needed two-game sweep of the Washington Nationals on Wednesday.
Atlanta (79-66) routed Washington 12-0 on Tuesday night while the New York Mets lost to the Toronto Blue Jays, leaving the teams tied for the third and final National League wild-card spot. The Braves host the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers for four games beginning on Friday.
Atlanta left-hander Max Fried (9-8, 3.35 ERA) will oppose Washington right-hander Jake Irvin (9-12, 4.28) on Wednesday.
Fried has given up three runs or fewer in each of his past five starts. On Friday, he allowed just an unearned run on five hits in seven innings during a 3-1 win against the Blue Jays. He walked one and struck out eight.
“That’s the Max we know,” catcher Travis d’Arnaud said after that game. “He’s not afraid of anybody. He just attacks guys and he’s not afraid of contact. He did a tremendous job today.”
Fried is no stranger to late-season success. Over his career, he is 13-5 with a 2.40 ERA in September and October regular-season outings.
Against familiar foe Washington, Fried is 8-4 with a 3.83 ERA in 18 games, 17 starts. That tally includes eight shutout innings in a 2-0 win on May 28.
Irvin has struggled of late. In his past two starts, he gave up a total of 13 runs in 9 2/3 innings, including six runs in five innings of a loss to the Pirates on Thursday, when he yielded seven hits and three walks.
After being staked to a 3-0 lead, he was tagged for five runs in the second. He allowed seven runs in the second inning of his previous start, against the Chicago Cubs.
“It’s something we’ve tried to limit all year long,” Irvin said of the big innings. “I think I’ve just done a really bad job of establishing the fastball. That’s something that keeps guys honest on the off-speed pitches.”
Irvin is 1-1 with a 3.15 ERA in four lifetime starts against the Braves. He pitched six scoreless innings and fanned 10 against Atlanta and Fried in a no-decision on May 28, and he is 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA in three outings vs. the Braves this year.
Michael Harris II homered twice and Orlando Arcia and Sean Murphy also went deep for Atlanta on Tuesday. The Braves had hit only three homers in eight games this month before Tuesday. Harris, Matt Olson and Ramon Laureano each had three hits.
The news wasn’t all good for Atlanta. Starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez left the game after one inning due to right shoulder soreness and will have an MRI exam on Wednesday.
“He wanted to keep going,” manager Brian Snitker said, “but when he stepped on it, he didn’t feel great. It’s something. But we’ll know more when they get him looked at a little more.”
Jesse Chavez entered in the second and pitched three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit, for the win. John Brebbia added three scoreless frames as four Braves pitchers combined for a three-hitter.
Jose Tena had two doubles for the Nationals.
MacKenzie Gore lasted just 3 2/3 innings and allowed seven runs, though only two were earned thanks to two Washington defensive miscues.
“He didn’t pitch well. We didn’t hit well,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “It was kind of a lopsided game.”
