Braves’ Chris Sale seeks first career win against Nationals

The Atlanta Braves will send their star player Chris Sale to the mound on Friday to try to continue the team’s winning streak when they open a three-game home series against the Washington Nationals – a team he has never beaten.

The Braves swept the three-game series with a 3-2 victory over Philadelphia on Thursday to narrow their deficit in the National League East to six games. Atlanta has won four of its last five games.

The Nationals beat Colorado 8-3 on Thursday to win their three-game home series. Washington has won three of its last four games.

The Nationals, who have not won a season series against Atlanta since 2017, are 6-2 against the Braves. Washington won three of four in the previous two series against Atlanta, most recently from June 6-9.

Sale (14-3, 2.62) has been the National League’s most dominant pitcher this season, his first with the Braves. He leads the league in wins and ERA among qualified starting pitchers and is second in strikeouts (187). He has allowed just 32 walks in 140 2/3 innings and owns a WHIP of 1.0.

In his final appearance on Saturday at the Los Angeles Angels, he earned the win by allowing two runs with 10 strikeouts in six innings – his third consecutive game with double-digit strikeouts and sixth of the season.

“I’m just enjoying where I am and honestly enjoying playing baseball again,” Sale said after his last start. “Obviously, the last few years are well documented and it’s been tough. But people go through tough times. You get over it and here we are.”

Sale has faced Washington five times in his career (three as a starter), going 0-2 with a 3.78 ERA. He lost to the Nats on June 7 despite allowing just two runs and scoring 10 runs in seven innings.

Sale will face fellow left-hander MacKenzie Gore (7-11, 4.66).

Gore ranks fourth among left-handers in the National League with 136 strikeouts in 125 2/3 innings. However, he has allowed five earned runs in two of his last three games, including his last game on Saturday against Philadelphia. He has only one win since June 14.

Gore has had problems with walks – two starts ago against the Angels he allowed six walks, the most in his career – and with falling behind in the count.

“He’s got to keep improving,” Washington manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s got to stay up front. He’s got good stuff. He really has. He’s just got to keep riding it.”

Gore has been an enigma for Atlanta this season. In two starts against the Braves, he is 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA. He last faced them on June 8, earning a win after throwing five innings and allowing two runs (one earned). In five career starts against Atlanta, Gore is 3-1 with a 3.46 ERA.

Washington’s offense was led by Luis Garcia Jr. He hit 2 for 4 on Thursday and improved his average to .296. Garcia has hit a safe hit in 17 of his last 21 games and has a batting average of .382 (29 of 76) with four doubles, four home runs, 13 RBIs, six walks, five stolen bases and 13 runs scored in that span.

Atlanta’s recent waiver signing has proven helpful. Third baseman Gio Urshela, who was added to the roster when Austin Riley broke his wrist, had a run-scoring double and managed a rally-killing double play on Thursday.

–Field level media