Spencer Strider Returns as Braves Look to Keep Rolling in D.C.

Atlanta meets Washington again, this time in D.C.

Braves Central - 680 The Fan

The Braves are in the Nation’s Capital for another of many meetings with the Washington Nationals. Atlanta just defeated them at home last week, taking the four-game series three games to one.

All eyes will be on Spencer Strider tomorrow, as he’s set to make his first start since April 16 in Toronto. This marks a major step forward for both Strider and the Braves. It’s been a long, frustrating road over the past year-plus for the right-hander, but he’s more than ready to get back on the mound and help this team.

Getting Strider back is a huge boost, especially considering how the rotation has performed without him. Atlanta’s starting staff has not only held things down, they’ve actually been one of the best in baseball over the past couple of weeks. Entering this Nationals series, the Braves rotation ranks top five in ERA this month at 2.70, and they've pitched 103.1 innings in May. That kind of length has been critical, with starters consistently working into the sixth and seventh innings.

The starters also haven’t been giving up the long ball much either. Atlanta ranks ninth in MLB this month in home runs allowed per nine innings at just 0.96, while also striking out 8.71 batters per nine. Braves starters have definitely stepped it up, and getting Strider back into that mix only strengthens a group that has already been trending in the right direction.

Atlanta will look to keep their hot offensive showing alive as well, something that finally showed signs of life over the weekend in Boston. Hopefully it wasn’t just Fenway magic, but as Gavin James pointed out this morning, it was still encouraging to see. The offense has been a struggle all season. There’s no doubt the Braves are better than their record shows, but consistent showings from the bats are what will push this team forward.

Matt Olson finally came out of the dumps in Boston and looked like the same guy who hit 53 home runs just a couple of seasons ago. For the series, Olson hit .583 with a slugging percentage of 1.250 and belted two home runs. Before the trip to Boston, Olson had been faced with a rough month, hitting just .173 in May, with hard-hit balls often finding gloves and his strikeouts on the rise. After the great weekend, his average jumped up to .250. Hopefullly Olson's struggles are behind him.

And of course, we all know about the arrival and play of Drake Baldwin. The rookie just continues to rake. It’s been pretty amazing to watch a young player look so composed and confident at the plate. Baldwin has stepped in and produced like someone who’s been doing this for years, and at a time when the Braves needed it most.

The Braves come into D.C. having won seven of their last nine series and will look to keep that trend rolling. They’ll have to cool off a Nationals team that had a strong weekend in Baltimore, putting up 24 runs across the three-game set, including back-to-back 10-run outings on Saturday and Sunday. Given the Orioles just fired their manager, Brandon Hyde, and are in a bit of a free fall, take that for what it’s worth, but the Nationals still arrive with confidence. Even so, I fully expect the Braves to keep this train rolling and pick up another series win.

Tune in tomorrow night as first pitch is set for 6:45 PM EDT on FanDuel Sports Network South/Southeast. You can also catch the radio broadcast on 680 The Fan.