With injuries and rotation scheduling considerations, the Braves turned to Kyle Muller for the start in a big game Tuesday night against the Nationals, needing a win to keep pressure on the Mets.
The offense couldn’t cook up any danger in the top of the first against the very hittable Paolo Espino. The Nationals, on the other hand, managed a single and a stolen base from CJ Abrams and a double from Luke Voit to score a run, although aided by a bit of BABIP luck. The Braves offense again had nothing going in the second and the Nationals again scored a run in the bottom of the frame, this time via a Robles homer.