7:15p.m. EDT. | Truist Park | Atlanta GA.

LHP Mackenzie Gore (5-14, 4.00 ERA) vs. LHP Chris Sale (5-5, 2.35 ERA)

Mackenzie Gore will get the start for the Nationals for game one of this series against the Braves. Gore enters his 29th start this season holding a 5-14 record and a 4.00 ERA with 182 strikeouts. In his last start five days ago against Atlanta, Gore went 5.1 innings gave up two hits, struck out five batters and walked three in a 5-0 loss. Despite a strong start from Gore the bullpen could not finish the game.

Mackenzie Gore was the third overall pick in the 2017 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres. The Nationals acquired him in 2022 via trade in return for Juan Soto and Josh Bell. Gore started the season the strong posting a 3.02 ERA in 18 starts, but since has been on and off the injury list this season with left shoulder inflammation. Gore will look to finish his season strong against a division opponent in Atlanta.

VS. Atlanta Braces

Mackenzie Gore is set to make his ninth start against the Braves tonight, a team in which he pitched great against over the course of his career. In eight starts against Atlanta he holds a 3-2 record with a 2.85 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 41 innings. Gore will look to get after this Braves lineup as they only are batting .248 against left handed pitchers this season.

Atlanta Braves Pitcher

2024 Cy Young winner Chris Sale will start game one for the Braves in this series. Sale enters his 19th start this season with a 5-5 record and 2.35 ERA. Sales last start came against the Nationals five days ago in which he threw eight innings and struck out nine batters giving up just three hits and no earned runs in a 5-0 win. Despite a stint on the 60 day injured list with a fractured rib cage that sidelined him for two months, Sale has continued his dominance over from last season to this season remaining as the Braves ace.

VS. WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Chris Sale has appeared in seven games in his career against the Nationals five of which he started. Sale enters tonight with an 0-2 record and an ERA of 2.56 and 36 strikeouts. He has pitched 31.2 innings against the Nationals giving up just 24 hits and nine earned runs. Sale has been dominant against Washington despite an 0-2 record and will look to continue this in his start tonight.

7:15 p.m. EDT. | Truist Park | Atlanta GA.

RHP Brad Lord (5-8, 4.18 ERA) vs. RHP Hurston Waldrep (5-1, 3.04 ERA)

Right handed pitcher Brad Lord will start game two for the Nationals on Tuesday. Lord enters this start with a 5-8 record and 4.18 ERA in 17 starts for the Nationals this season. In Lords last start five days ago against this same Braves team he went 5.1 innings, gave up two earned runs on six hits, and struck out four batters in a 9-4 loss.

Brad Lord was an 18th round draft pick out of the University of South Florida in the 2022 MLB draft for the Nationals and made his MLB debut on opening day this season out of the bullpen. Lord has looking like a promising young arm on a Nationals team that is filled with young talent. Lord will look to finish his season strong against a Braves team he is familiar with.

VS. Atlanta Braves

Brad Lord has appeared in four games against the Braves in his career one of which was a start. Lord has pitched 10.1 innings in those appearances allowing 13 hits and four earned runs, three walks, and 12 strikeouts. Lord has been solid against Atlanta outside of his start last week against the Braves.

Hurston Waldrep will start game two for the Braves this series. Waldrep enters this start with a 5-1 record and 3.04 ERA in 8 starts this season. Waldrep has pitched 50.1 innings and struck out 50 batters.

Waldrep was a first round pick by the Braves in 2023 and actually made his MLB debut against the Nationals in 2024. In his debut he struggled giving up seven earned runs in just 3.2 innings with four hits and walks and just one strikeout.

VS. WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Hurston Waldrep has started just two games against the Nationals in his career one of which came last week against. In that start he threw five innings, allowed five hits and three earned runs.

12:15 p.m. EDT. | Truist Park | Atlanta GA.

LHP Andrew Alvarez (1-1, 2.84 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Elder (8-10, 5.36 ERA)

For the last game in this he series the Nationals will give Andrew Alvarez the start. Alvarez was called up the big leagues from triple A Rochester on September 1st where he made his MLB debut against the Marlins. In his first career start Alvarez pitched five shutout innings allowing just one hit, walking two batters and striking out four batters; the Nationals went onto win 10-5.

Alvarez was a 12th round pick in 2021 by the Nationals and has excelled in the Minors before being called up. Alvarez was named “Minor League Pitcher of the Year” in 2023 when he recorded a 7-7 record to go along with a 2.99 ERA and 108 strikeouts. Alvarez who struggled in his start Saturday against the Mets pitched just 3.1 innings and allowed four earned runs and four strikeouts.

VS. Atlanta Braves

N/A

Bryce Elder will start the last game of the series for the Braves Wednesday. Elder will enter this start with an 8-10 record to go along with a 5.36 ERA in 27 starts this season. Elder has pitched 149.1 innings this season and recorded 124 strikeouts. In his last start against a playoff bound Detroit Tigers team, Elder went seven innings allowing just one earned run and six strikeouts.

Elder was a fifth round pick in 2020 by the braves and made his MLB debut on April 12th against the Nationals. Elder has been a strong starter for the Braves and will look to finish his 2025 season strong with the Braves season coming to an end.

VS. WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Bryce Elder has started four games against the Nationals in his career one of which was his MLB debut. In his debut he went 5.2 innings allowing three earned runs and struck out four on his way to his first career win. Since then he has pitched 26 innings against the Nationals and allowed seven earned runs and struck out 16 batters.

Last Destination for Washington: The Nationals will be traveling outside of Washington for the last time in 2025 when they head to Truist Park. The Nationals hold a 33-45 record on the road and have an opportunity to tack a few wins on that record before the season ends.

The Veteran vs The Young Gun: Chris Sale and Mackenzie Gore will go head to head in game two of this series and it will be a good one. Sale a potential future hall of famer will face a young key starting pitcher for the Nationals in Mackenzie Gore. Both pitchers will be looking to make a statement this late in the season.

Nationals Youth vs Veterans:Despite being eliminated from playoff contention the Braves have been a competitive team this season. The Nationals who have been battling all season while also trying to see what there young talent can do will look to a statement this series against a more veteran team in Atlanta.