Braves Unable to Complete Rally, Drop Series Opener to Washington Nationals

The Atlanta Braves dug themselves into a deep hole and couldn't quite dig out against the Washington Nationals, dropping the series opener 8-4 in Truist Park on Monday afternoon. Atlanta's elder statesman appeared to have good underlying metrics in this one - eighteen whiffs and a 29% CSW (Called Strikes plus Whiffs, with 30% being MLB average) - but he just could not avoid Nationals bats today with the rest of his pitches. Washington scored four runs in the first innings off of four hits and a walk, with Morton taking thirty pitches (nineteen strikes) to get out of the inning. Morton was charged with eight runs allowed (all earned) on twelve hits, walking two and striking out seven.