Day After The Party But Still Work To Be Done

Tim Hudson and the Atlanta Braves finally got the celebration they were seeking with Hudson obtaining his 200th career win last night in Atlanta but some baseball still has to be played in this series so Braves have to refocus and take the diamond again tonight. Zimmerman is 4-1 2.00 ERA .086 WHIP and had a one hit shut out last time out. Zimmerman has had two complete games in three starts and has not allowed more than three runs in any start this season. Zimmerman is 2-1 3.81 ERA in five starts vs. Atlanta but will need run support from a Nationals lineup who have only scored two or fewer runs in eight of last ten games with seven losses. Maholm is 3-2 3.38 ERA 1.20 WHIP and won his first three starts throwing 20 scoreless innings but has lost two straight and allowed eight runs and ten hits in Detroit. Jayson Werth is 10 for 30 with four doubles and a HR vs. Maholm and may be back in the National Lineup after a night off nursing a sore ankle. Washington is now 13-14 4-7 Road losing three while Atlanta is 17-9 8-2 Home wining two. Washington is 0-9 SU last nine in this matchup. Maholm will be glad to be back at Turner Field after the shaky road trip. Both Maholm and Zimmerman will be digging in for a quality start so the early innings may see both pitchers getting through the order but hitters may have some success the second go through. Last night was a special night for Atlanta and Braves Fans but the after game celebrations can only continue if the work is done between the lines again tonight vs a NL East Division Rival. Source: ESPN And USA Today MLB Preview.

If Maholm can get back into his old form and being back home vs a Nationals Lineup struggling to produce runs might be the recipe for success tonight. Braves may not need many if Maholm and relievers deliver. Today the focus will be Atlanta -135 looking for Maholm to handle Harper and Werth while Upton and Gattis contribute for Atlanta. Simmons has been getting around the bases well also. Zimmerman has had the numbers as of late but will look to the Atlanta Scores First +110 Prop with maybe a Upton Gattis Freeman Uggla HR in the early innings.

Ian Desmond with a two run HR in the fourth for the first score of the game. 2-0 Washington and the Prop for the night goes by the wayside.

Zimmerman has a shut out going through six and Harper left the game with injury. Braves really with no offensive threat vs. Zimmerman and will have to pull a rabbit out of the hat to pull this one out.

Washington finally breaks their 0-9 SU drought vs. Atlanta with a 2-0 win tonight. Zimmerman was outstanding and lock down at one time retiring 18 batters in a row. Maholm was good also only allowing three hits but a walk and HR was enough for Nationals to put two on the board and two is all it took. Nationals can split the series with a win tomorrow or Braves can clinch series with win. Thought Braves might would get a couple off Zimmerman with Upton and Gattis but The Zim Man was too strong tonight. Will be interesting to see if Harper is in lineup tomorrow after leaving tonight with injury. Nationals Lineup may be without Werth and Harper tomorrow.