The Braves have been a bad baseball team for the past four games. Poor starting pitching continues to hamper the club, while the offense has been quieted as well. One major setback to the club was the abdominal injury to Ronald Acuna, who since his return has been a shell of the player he was prior. His health, along with the current state of the pitching staff, leaves Atlanta with little room for error each night. Now the Braves head to Washington, where the division-rival Nationals are assuredly waiting with eyes toward extending the Atlanta woes.
Atlanta enters play with a 12-16 record on the season, which places them fourth in the divisional pecking order.