Martin Perez starts another Sunday rubber match for Braves vs. Nationals

The Braves and Nationals play a deciding Sunday game at 4:10 p.m. EDT after multiple series have ended in rubber matches. Atlanta has won seven of eight deciding games and remains undefeated in home series at 8-0-0. Martín Pérez starts for the Braves, continuing a stretch of consecutive starts without relief work. He allowed four runs at Miami but still delivered five innings and a career-high 10 strikeouts. This season he has a 2.85 ERA and a 1.000 WHIP across 10 appearances. Against Washington, he has struggled with a 6.20 ERA and six homers allowed. He faces left-hander Foster Griffin, who returned from Japan and has performed well early in his Nationals tenure.

"Another Sunday, another rubber match for the Atlanta Braves. For the third straight weekend - and the fourth out of the last five - the series will be on the line in the deciding game Sunday when the Braves host the Washington Nationals at 4:10 p.m. EDT. Given, rubber matches have been no problem for the Braves through the first two months of the season. They've won seven of their eight deciding games of series and still haven't lost a series at home, a perfect 8-0-0."

"Martín Pérez (2-2, 2.85 ERA) will be called upon to continue that run in this series finale. He's making a second consecutive start without a relief appearance in between for the first time since April 28 and May 6. While Pérez's role has been a bit wonky, he's handling it exceptionally well. He allowed a season-high-tying four runs Tuesday at Miami - three of them coming in the first inning - but still grinded out five innings and set a new career high of 10 strikeouts - no small feat for a 15-year veteran."

"In 10 appearances (six starts) this season, Pérez has a career-best 2.85 ERA and a career-best 1.000 WHIP. When you look at his Statcast profile, there's no one area that jumps out in terms of his effectiveness. But he just keeps providing strong-enough spot starts or relief appearances. Pérez doesn't have a particularly strong history against the Nationals. He's 1-2 with a 6.20 ERA in six appearances (four starts), striking out 20, walking seven and allowing six homers."

"He'll be facing off against Washington's Foster Griffin (5-2, 4.02) in a battle of left-handers. Griffin is back in the United States this season after spending the last three in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants. He returned to the majors on a one-year deal with Washington. That return has gone well through the first few months. He's one of just three Nationals pitchers to mak"

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