A two-out, two-run double by Bryce Harper in the eighth inning on Tuesday sunk the Braves’ battleship. The Nationals’ lead held at 2-1 and the Braves fell to 0-7 to open the 2016 season. Per ESPN Stats & Info, it’s the Braves’ first 0-7 start since 1988 and their third since moving to Atlanta in 1966 (the other year being 1980).
What’s wrong with the Braves? Well, everything, really. Aside from Adonis Garcia and Nick Markakis, they’re not hitting. Freddie Freeman went 0-for-3 on Tuesday night, sending his average down to .095. He has exactly one extra-base hit, a homer.
Jhoulys Chacin pitched well in his start against the Nationals and that’s been a rare sight for the Braves. Their starters came into Tuesday’s action with a collective 5.94 ERA. Their bullpen has been worse, with a 7.84 ERA.
The Phillies were projected to be the only team in baseball worse than the Braves, and they’re 3-5 after beating the Padres on Tuesday night. Could the Braves actually be terrible enough to finish with the worst record and thus secure the first overall pick in the 2017 draft? A week and a half into the season, it seems like it.