"It's been so frustrating trying to get through the first few innings the last two starts," he says. "I've thrown a lot of pitches. I've been losing control of all my pitches right now. I just need to do some tune-ups in the bullpen to see if I can find my release point again."

Jurrjens, 22, has not been throwing off the mound between starts lately, at McDowell's suggestion. He has been tossing only.

"It's been difficult for me to get through five innings nice and easy," he says. "I need to figure how to go at least seven again. I'm really not helping the bullpen at all."

Jurrjens' strategy is not about how to finish only this season; he plans to use his remaining starts to work on alternative ways to get hitters out with fewer pitches. Not only because he wants to finish this season strong, but because he understands that as he ages, he won't always have the same velocity on his pitches.

And he expects the Braves to be playing in the postseason next year and in future years. He'll be tired then, too, he reasons. So he might as well prepare.

NATIONALS 7, BRAVES 4 (14 innings): It was the story of the Braves' season: They couldn't bridge the gap from the starter to the closer, and they couldn't get the big hit or execute in the late innings. Julian Tavarez and Blaine Boyer combined to blow a three-run lead in the seventh and eighth innings, and Jeff Bennett gave up a three-run double to Elijah Dukes in the 14th.