Bobby Blanco here with another series Insight at the PNC digital desk PNC Bank helping to make a difference before we look ahead to the upcoming series let's take a quick look back at the last time out for the Nationals the Nats secured their 18th series victory of the season on Wednesday by routing the White Sox 13-3 it was their first win of 10 or more runs since April 2022 and the production came from everyone Lane Thomas hit a grand slam Dominic Smith homered and Joey Meneses added a two-run shot while CJ Abrams was all over the bases and Josiah gray held Chicago to one run over five innings now they conclude their final Homestead of the season with four games against the NL East Champion Braves who have locked up their sixth straight division title their magic number to claim the number one seed in the National League is seven as the Dodgers host the Giants this weekend and with the best record in baseball the Braves magic number to clinch home field advantage throughout the playoffs is eight against the Orioles meanwhile the Nationals are just two wins away from their first seven you win season since 2019. Jake Irvin has been one of the Nat's most consistent starters during his rookie year he'll make his 24th start Thursday night bringing a 3-6 record and 434 era which is the second best in this rotation the Nats will face Max freed for the first time since opening day in which the Lefty allowed one run over three and a third Innings before departing early with a hamstring injury he has only made 12 starts since but is 7-1 with a 264 era on the season Lane Thomas got the Homer party started on Wednesday with a grand slam he's your player to watch this weekend with one more stolen base he'll have the 620 Homer and 20 stolen base season in Nats history and the first since 2016. and that'll wrap up this series Insight from the PNC digital desk PNC Bank helping to make a difference