Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals

Watching Didier Fuentes throw 39 first-inning pitches 24 hours after Reynaldo López had lasted just one inning can create some stress. But Braves manager Walt Weiss’ nerves were calmed as his team constructed its latest four-homer game. Michael Harris II tallied two of those home runs, and Matt Olson drilled the decisive one as the Braves escaped a wacky game with an 8-6 win over the Nationals on Wednesday night at Nationals Park. Atlanta’s three four-homer games through 25 games matches its total from the 2025 season. “It was a Rubik’s Cube tonight, thinking about how we were going to get through that,” Weiss said. “That’s a really good win, especially after getting down early.” As the Braves attempt to complete this seven-game road trip with a sixth win, they’ll send JR Ritchie, the team’s No. 2 prospect, to the mound to make his MLB debut on Thursday afternoon at Nationals Park. Ritchie wouldn’t have been needed had Fuentes, the team’s No. 3 prospect, fared better in his first start of the season. Of course, Fuentes might not have started Wednesday had López done his job on Tuesday night. But these pitching woes were covered by an offense that leads the Majors with 143 runs and ranks second with 36 homers. Harris’ seventh two-homer game of his career was certainly the highlight of an unusual day. The Braves center fielder started slow, but his expected statistics indicated his current surge was coming. He has hit .412 (14-for-34) with five homers and a 1.341 OPS over his past 10 games. “I’m going to try to keep doing it over the whole season,” Harris said. “We’re winning now. So it’s a good feeling.” Martín Pérez had reason to feel good after this one. The veteran left-hander’s scheduled start was pushed back from Wednesday to Thursday because López’s ugly start on Tuesday had left Atlanta with just three relievers Weiss could comfortably use on Wednesday. But instead of calling up Fuentes to provide bullpen relief, the Braves opted to have him start Wednesday. By pushing Pérez and other starters back, Atlanta was able to set Chris Sale up to make each of his next few starts with extra rest. This seemed like a good idea until Fuentes surrendered five hits, including Daylen Lile’s three-run homer, in the first inning. The 20-year-old right-hander kept the Nationals scoreless over the next two innings, but he was removed after throwing 74 pitches over just three innings. Pérez then prevented the situation from becoming disastrous by providing the three in