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No matter the result on Thursday, the Atlanta Braves will complete the 2017 season with a winning record in the home park of its division rival, the Washington Nationals.
In 2015 and 2016, the Braves combined to go 1-19 at Nationals Park, in one of the worst runs of success — or lack thereof — imaginable for a team in a single ballpark.
But that has changed in 2017, as the Braves enter their final game at Nationals Park with a 6-3 mark, ensuring that they will not only exorcise those demons to a degree, but they will have a winning record.
Thursday night’s game pits a pair of double-digit game winners, Mike Foltynewicz and Tanner Roark.
Foltynewicz enters the game with a 10-12 mark and a 4.74 ERA on the season. Despite the losing record to this point, Folty has set a career high in wins this season. He’s certainly hit a rough patch in recent weeks, though. After one of his most impressive outings of the season on August 5, when he struck out 11 batters and walked none in 6 1⁄3 innings of one-run ball, he has lost each of his last six starts to go from 10-6 to 10-12.
Folty wasn’t bad by any stretch in his last start and put up a quality start. He allowed three runs in six innings, while walking just one and striking out eight, but his offense provided no support and the Braves fell, 7-1, to the Marlins.
Tanner Roark has backed up his strong season last year with another solid showing. He’s 12-9 with a 4.48 ERA on the season, and makes his 28th start of the season on Thursday.
Roark has made one start against the Braves this season, and Atlanta knocked him around the yard on June 14. He lasted just five innings and gave up seven runs in a 13-2 Braves win.
He also made his only relief appearance of the year on July 8, as he pitched five innings in a 13-0 Braves victory.
Game Info:
Time/Date: Thursday, September 14, 7:05 p.m. ET
Location: Nationals Park
TV: FOX Sports Southeast
Radio: 680 AM/93.7 FM, Braves Radio Network