Nationals vs. Braves preview: Luiz Gohara faces rematch with Max Scherzer

On Wednesday evening, Luiz Gohara took the mound for the Atlanta Braves and he was opposed by Max Scherzer and the Washington Nationals. The good folks in Las Vegas (and other oddsmakers) gave the 21-year-old rookie left-hander very little chance to out-duel one of the best pitchers in the sport but, in the end, it was Atlanta that ran away with a lopsided victory.

This evening brings the rematch between the same two starters and it is another test for Gohara. The talented youngster navigated six innings while allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out six and issuing no walks. This time around, the venue is shifting back to SunTrust Park and, while that may not be a help for Gohara, it could provide some optimism for a Braves team with a (very) slightly better record in its home park.

As for Scherzer, it seems aggressive to think that the Atlanta offense will be able to beat up on the ace again but the right-hander boasts an unsightly 4.91 ERA against the Braves this season. Granted, that includes only a four-start sample but it paints a relatively rosy picture.

The Braves have little to play for other than pride but there have been some optimistic signs in recent days. We’ll see if that continues on Tuesday.

Stay tuned.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Tuesday, September 19, 2017, 7:35 pm ET

Location: SunTrust Park, Atlanta, Georgia

TV: Fox Sports Southeast, MLB.tv (streaming)

Radio: 680 AM, 93.7 FM (Flagship in Atlanta), WYAY 106.7, Braves Radio Network