Losing three of four games through Thursday night, the Atlanta Braves aren\u2019t playing like a team that wants the National League Wild Card. <\/p>\n
Date: <\/strong>Saturday, September 24, 2011 Atlanta Braves (88-68 through September 22)<\/strong> They still hold the position but lead the streaking St. Louis Cardinals by just two games entering weekend play.<\/p>\n Rookie Brandon Beachy will start at Washington on Saturday afternoon. While he looks like a future ace, having struck out 160 batters and walked only 42 in 135.2 innings, he is experiencing predictable rookie growing pains. Beachy is still more of a thrower than a pitcher, so he nibbles too much. He hasn\u2019t lasted more than six innings in nine straight starts. It\u2019s no wonder he has more no-decisions (15) than decisions (9) this season.<\/p>\n Washington Nationals (76-79 through September 22)<\/strong> Are the Washington Nationals baseball\u2019s hottest team? They beat the first-overall Phillies four straight times in Philadelphia this week and have won eight of 10 through Thursday. It must be the \u201cStephen Strasburg Effect,\u201d though the youngster hasn\u2019t pitched in any of the team\u2019s five straight victories. The other National starters are clearly getting it done, too. Maybe just having Strasburg on the team raises the bar.<\/p>\n Chien-Ming Wang, innings-eater extraordinaire, has been serviceable. He beat the Marlins last week and has lost once in his last eight starts. [dfads params=’groups=10&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]<\/p>\n The pick:<\/strong><\/p>\n The one team to beat Wang over that stretch: Atlanta. The last team to beat him before that game: also Atlanta. The Braves really have Wang\u2019s number, for some reason. He\u2019s 0-3 over four career outings against them with a 4.18 ERA. The latter number is deceiving, as the Braves scored six runs off him in an August 3 victory but only two were earned.<\/p>\n Dan Uggla, who leads Atlanta with 35 homers, is 3 for 5 with a long fly against Wang in his career. He\u2019s the obvious threat but the Braves should also get Eric Hinske into their lineup. The bench bat is 14 for 34 (.412) with two homers and five RBI against Wang all-time.<\/p>\n Beachy may take his lumps as he works his way through a slump but the Braves should also bash Wang around. Expect a high-scoring affair and an Atlanta win.<\/p>\n
\nVenue: <\/strong>Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.
\nBroadcast: <\/strong>SPSO, MASN
\nAtlanta Braves at Washington Nationals Betting Lines from Sportsbook.com<\/strong>
\nMoney Line: <\/strong>OFF
\nOver\/Under: <\/strong>OFF<\/p>\n
\nBrandon Beachy (7-2, 3.58)<\/p>\n
\nChien-Ming Wang (3-3, 4.31)<\/p>\n