Nationals aim to split the rain-delayed doubleheader with Atlanta, sending MacKenzie Gore against Chris Sale. Abrams and James Wood sit; Nasim Nunez leads off, with Daylen Lile, Jacob Young and Dylan Crews in the outfield. Josh Bell DHs; Andres Chaparro at first; Riley Adams behind the plate. Braves counter with Marcell Ozuna at DH, Sandy Leon catching, and Nick Allen and Nacho Alvarez added. Washington looks to halt a skid after a Pirates series.

Atlanta heads into the final Snitker season with retirement looming and a quiet reckoning on a peak window slipping from top World Series odds to a tougher path. The Braves may break their free-agent habit to upgrade at shortstop, with Bo Bichette named the marquee target and Trevor Story emerging as a credible fallback. Nick Allen has served as the stopgap, but durability and upside concerns keep Atlanta’s shortstop plan in flux.

Braves eye Trevor Story as a potential shortstop upgrade if his opt-out after this season becomes reality. Story has posted a solid line for the Red Sox this year (.260/.744 with 23 homers, 86 RBI, 3.5 bWAR), offering power and steady defense at a premium position. Atlanta already added Ha-Seong Kim, which could temper any move unless Kim tests free agency. The chatter centers on a three-year deal in the $60-70 million range, with Story pushing for more than $25 million per season.

Kim’s early impact and health questions complicate the calculus. If Kim stays healthy and opts in, Atlanta may prefer to keep him, narrowing the Story path. If Kim tests the market, Story becomes an attractive, high-cost alternative, though the contract and opt-out dynamics will shape the Braves offseason strategy and Boston’s leverage remains a factor.