May 26, 2013; Flushing, NY,USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Julio Teheran (49) pitches during the first inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
The Washington Nationals will be in Atlanta tonight for the first of a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves, and hopeful of making some headway in their attempt to knock the Braves off their pedestal atop the NL East.  The Braves have a 5.5 game lead in the division, which might seem considerable unless you’re the feast or famine Atlanta Braves.  If I sound skeptical of Atlanta’s ability to keep this division lead, it’s because I believe they are not fielding the best team night-in, night-out.  If the Atlanta Braves hope to continue to put wins on the board and remain atop the division, the lineup Fredi Gonzalez & Co. had in place last night needs to continue to be in place, at least until it’s proven they are not necessarily the most productive one.  That’s just my humble opinion, although with the beating the Braves put on the Blue Jays last night (16 hits and an 11-3 victory), I’m not sure how anyone could disagree.
That said, even as I write this I’m checking the Atlanta lineup for tonight’s game, and I see that once again Atlanta has chosen to take Jordan Schafer out of the lineup again in favor of playing the slumping Jason Heyward.  Ramiro Pena is back in the lineup again for Andrelton Simmons (who probably is just getting the night off after a few uncharacteristic errors on his part), but the slumping Dan Uggla is back at 2nd base.  Fredi’s reasons for playing Heyward and Uggla may seem obvious at first, with Heyward 7-14 against Stephen Strasburg and Dan Uggla 11-23 with two homers off him, but I still maintain that those guys should sit the bench a touch longer to wake them up.  At the very least the Braves have Evan Gattis back in left field.  Gattis slammed a two-run shot off Strasburg to aid in a 3-1 victory back on April 13.  We’ll just have to see how things go with another adjusted, tinkered lineup for the Braves again tonight.
As I’ve already alluded to, Stephen Strasburg will take the mound tonight for the Washington Nationals, and the Braves will need to be on their game.  Atlanta has hit well against Strasburg, but he has been good lately, going 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his last three starts.  With an 0-5 record and 3.61 ERA during the previous seven outings, Stephen has clearly found out what was ailing him, and will hope to have that same command facing the Braves tonight.
Atlanta Braves Lineup (Game 1)
1. Â Jason Heyward (CF)
2. Â Ramiro Pena (SS)
3. Â Justin Upton (RF)
4. Â Freddie Freeman (1B)
5. Â Evan Gattis (LF)
6. Â Brian McCann (C)
7. Â Dan Uggla (2B)
8. Â Chris Johnson (3B)
9. Â Julio Teheran (P)
Of Note: Â Julio Teheran (3-1, 3.67) will take the bump in game 1 against Strasburg. Â Julio has gone 3-1 with a 2.23 ERA in his last six starts after compiling a 7.31 ERA in his first three outings. Â Gio Gonzalez will take the mound in game 2 against Tim Hudson. Both have struggled this year. Â Nathan Karns will take the mound against Paul Maholm in game 3. Â Karns, a newcomer to the Bigs, pitched pretty well in his debut against the Orioles, despite what his numbers look like after just one game.
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