Braves keep rolling with win over Nationals

Gabriel Burns, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Sep 23, 2025

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

ATLANTA — The Braves are ending their season on a Christina Aguilera-esque high note.

Behind three homers, the Braves earned their 10th straight victory in Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals. While they’re long removed from postseason contention, the Braves have shown plenty of pride with how they’ve finished this remarkably disappointing year.

They’re now 33-30 since the All-Star break. It was too little, too late for 2025, but perhaps their revival is a sign of what’s awaiting in 2026.

Outfielder Michael Harris II, whose ups-and-downs would make for a thrilling Disney World attraction, homered twice. It was his first multi-homer effort in 2025. Harris has five hits over the past two games, three of which went for extra bases.

Right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. homered for the second straight evening, pummeling Brad Lord’s middle-placed slider to give the Braves their first lead in the sixth inning. Acuña, who endured a 25 at-bat hitless streak earlier this month, has captured his expected form since. If he stays healthy, Acuña will enter next season among the MVP favorites once again.

Rookie starter Hurston Waldrep enjoyed his finest start of the month, surrendering one run on five hits across six innings. Waldrep has been marvelous outside a hiccup against the Astros. He’ll likely head to spring training expecting to be in the starting rotation. He has a 2.88 ERA in 56 1/3 innings since debuting in early August.

The Braves and Nationals conclude their series Wednesday when Bryce Elder (8-10, 5.36) faces lefty Andrew Alvarez (1-1, 2.84).

____