Venue: Truist Park — Atlanta, Georgia
First Pitch: 1:35 PM ET
Broadcast: Bally Sports South, MASN, MLB.TV
The Braves enter Sunday with the best record in the National League and look to secure another series win behind breakout star Maximo Pérez, while the Nationals counter with young right-hander Jackson Griffin, who has shown flashes but remains inconsistent. Atlanta’s offense continues to be one of MLB’s most dangerous, while Washington is fighting to stay above water in the NL Wild Card race.
Venue & Weather
Truist Park — Atlanta, GA
Weather Forecast (May 24):
- Temperature: 82–85°F
- Wind: 6–10 mph out to right-center
- Humidity: 60%
- Rain: <10%
- Impact:
- Warm, humid air boosts ball carry
- Slight advantage for left-handed power hitters
- Good hitting conditions overall
Injury Report
Washington Nationals
- CJ Abrams — Active
- Lane Thomas — Active
- Joey Meneses — Day-to-day (wrist)
- Josiah Gray — OUT (forearm)
- Hunter Harvey — Active
Atlanta Braves
- Ronald Acuña Jr. — Active
- Matt Olson — Active
- Austin Riley — Day-to-day (back stiffness)
- Sean Murphy — Active
- Spencer Strider — OUT (elbow)
Team Records & Recent Form
Washington Nationals (26–27)
- Last 10: 5–5
- Trend: Pitching competitive, offense streaky
- Strength: Speed, improved bullpen
- Weakness: Lack of power, inconsistent run production
Atlanta Braves (36–17)
- Last 10: 7–3
- Trend: Offense rolling, rotation stabilizing
- Strength: Elite lineup depth, strong home performance
- Weakness: Occasional bullpen volatility
Probable Pitching Matchup
Washington — RHP Jackson Griffin (2–4, 4.71 ERA)
Profile:
- Fastball/slider/changeup mix
- Generates strikeouts but struggles with command
- Vulnerable to left-handed power
Splits:
- Vs RHB: .255 AVG
- Vs LHB: .284 AVG
- Road ERA: 5.02
Matchup Notes:
- Must avoid middle-in fastballs vs Olson and Harris II
- Braves’ lineup punishes mistakes
Atlanta — RHP Maximo Pérez (6–2, 2.89 ERA)
Profile:
- Power righty with elite slider
- Excellent command for his age
- One of MLB’s breakout arms in 2026
Splits:
- Vs RHB: .218 AVG
- Vs LHB: .232 AVG
- Home ERA: 2.54
Matchup Notes:
- Nationals’ contact-heavy lineup may struggle to elevate the ball
- Pérez rarely gives up big innings
Key Player Matchups
1. Matt Olson (ATL) vs. Jackson Griffin
- Olson feasts on right-handers
- Griffin’s fly-ball tendencies are dangerous here Advantage: Atlanta
2. CJ Abrams (WSH) vs. Maximo Pérez
- Abrams’ speed is a weapon, but Pérez limits baserunners Advantage: Atlanta
3. Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL) vs. Griffin
- Acuña is heating up after a slow April
- Griffin’s command issues could lead to extra-base damage Advantage: Atlanta
4. Lane Thomas (WSH) vs. Pérez
- Thomas handles velocity well
- But Pérez’s slider is a tough matchup Advantage: Atlanta
Series History
- 2025 Season: Braves won 11–2
- 2026 Season: Braves lead 3–1 entering Sunday
- At Truist Park (last 12): Braves lead 10–2
- Trend: Atlanta has dominated this matchup for multiple seasons
Betting Trends
Washington Nationals
- Nationals are 3–7 in last 10 road games
- Under is 6–3 in last 9 Nationals games
- Washington is 1–5 in Griffin’s last 6 starts
Atlanta Braves
- Braves are 8–2 in last 10 home games
- Over is 5–2 in last 7 Braves games
- Atlanta is 7–1 in Pérez’s last 8 starts
Game Odds
Washington Nationals 8.5
Atlanta Braves – 163
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, May 23, 2026
