Michael Harris II will try to continue his hot hitting on Wednesday afternoon when the Atlanta Braves go for their 11th straight win and a sweep of a three-game series against the visiting Washington Nationals.
The Braves (75-83) have their first double-digit winning streak since winning 14 straight in June 2022. It is the longest active streak in the major leagues.
The Nationals (64-94) have lost nine of 12 meetings with Atlanta this season.
“I think it’s important that we don’t have a team that’s going to cash it in and play the string out,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “These guys are out there like we’re trying to fight our way into the playoffs, and you can’t ask for anything more than that.”
Harris has been a big part of the surge. He hit two home runs on Tuesday in Atlanta’s 3-2 win over Washington, his first long balls since Aug. 27. In the past three games, he is batting .538 (7-for-13) with two doubles, two homers and six RBIs. Harris, who was hitting .210 at the All-Star break, has lifted his batting to .246 and has matched his career-best with 19 homers.
“I’ve got so much respect for him through the ups and downs of the offensive struggles and adjustments,” Snitker said. “He keeps playing defense, winning games on that side of the ball, and when you see him do something like this …
“Well, a week from today, we’re going to look at the year and go, ‘It wasn’t bad.’”
The pitching matchup for the series finale features Atlanta right-hander Bryce Elder (8-10, 5.36 ERA) and Washington left-hander Andrew Alvarez (1-1, 2.84).
Elder began the season in Triple-A Gwinnett but will end up leading Atlanta in starts. Wednesday’s game will be his 28th start of the year.
When Elder is good, he can be very good. He has allowed two or fewer runs in five his past six starts, most recently surrendering only one run in seven innings during a win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday.
However, when Elder is bad, he can be very bad. Two starts ago, he gave up six runs in 4 1/3 innings to the Houston Astros. He has allowed five or more runs seven times this year, once allowing 10 runs and twice giving up eight runs.
Elder has made five career starts against Washington, going 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA. His lone appearance vs. the Nationals this year resulted in a no-decision after he threw six innings of one-run ball on May 14.
Alvarez is a rookie who will face the Braves for the first time while making the fifth start of his career. After allowing two runs in 15 2/3 innings over his first three starts (1.15 ERA), he was roughed up by the New York Mets on Friday when he yielded six runs, four earned, in 3 1/3 innings.
“He throws strikes, and that’s something I like,” interim Washington manager Miguel Cairo said. “I want him to compete. I want him to go after hitters.”
Atlanta made several roster moves on Tuesday. The Braves recalled infielder Brett Wisely from Gwinnett to replace second baseman Ozzie Albies, who broke the hamate bone in his left wrist and will miss the rest of the season. Wisely went 0-for-1 with a walk on Tuesday.
The Braves also added Joel Payamps to the active roster a day after claiming the right-hander off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers, and he threw an inning of scoreless relief Tuesday night. Right-hander Nathan Wiles was optioned to Gwinnett.