Field Level Media
(Photo credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)
The Washington Nationals show occasional signs of getting it all together, even if those moments come too late in the season.
The Atlanta Braves (97-55), meanwhile, need to crank it up again or risk losing some of their edge entering the playoffs.
The teams will begin a four-game series Thursday night in Washington, D.C.
The Nationals (68-85) smacked the Chicago White Sox 13-3 on Wednesday to finish with two wins in the three-games series.
While the results have been wavering, Nationals manager Dave Martinez hopes the blowout will boost his team's morale entering the last 1 1/2 weeks of the season.