Atlanta Braves: MASSIVE Game In Washington Upon Us!

The Atlanta Braves close out a four game stretch in Washington this afternoon. This game is bigger than just the usual division ramifications.

As this is written, first pitch between the Atlanta Braves (42-44) and the first place Washington Nationals isn’t that far away. As usual, this game is incredibly important. It’s a divisional game. It’s a road game. It’s the last game before the All-Star break. A win would mean winning a road series 3-1 at their place. It’s important.

But there are sub-text things at play that layer the importance of this game. Things that, by themselves, probably don’t seem like much. Things that make you shrug dismissively.

For instance, Sean Newcomb pitches today. Dude got roughed up last time out, and given an introduction to championship caliber MLB hitting, by the Houston Astros. If Newcomb can come out and pitch well on the road, in a game that is this important, it portends well, one would think, for the rest of the season. And our beloved Braves need him to be good.

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Another example is the absolute disaster that was Jim Johnson the other night. I might write an entire article on that guy. Not to blast him, it isn’t personal, but he’s not good right now, and that is being kind. It is absolutely unacceptable and a crippling failure to blow a three run lead. A win today would win the series 3-1, and absent Jim Johnson’s debacle, a series sweep of Washington at their place. Which leads me to…

It’s the last game before the break. Most likely, the Atlanta Braves Front Office already knows what they are going to do in terms of buying and selling. A win today, though, does affect fan attitude and temperature. They go on another selling spree of fan favorites, and let’s just say it; Fans are going to go nuts.

This game matters for both statistical, divisional, and perceptional reasons. It really matters.

Then there is beating Bryce Harper. That’s almost enough to make it important by itself.

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