Braves’ opponent: Washington Nationals
Keep an eye on: Max Scherzer. The Braves will face him for the first time all season on Thursday – having missed him in their previous three series against the Nationals – and it’ll be a tall order. Scherzer has given up two or fewer runs in 12 of his 15 starts with the Nationals. He’s pitched seven innings or more in 12 of his 15 starts, eight innings or more in five of them, and nine innings twice, including his no-hitter against the Pirates on June 20, when all that stood behind him and a perfect game was a hit batsman with one strike left to get.