47 Gio Gonzalez SP

Gonzalez (15-7) hung on long enough to get the win over the Braves on Wednesday, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk over seven innings while striking out eight.

Both runs scored on solo homers by Freddie Freeman and Kurt Suzuki, and Gonzalez was on the hook for a loss in a 2-1 game when he exited, but the Braves bullpen imploded in the top of the eighth to hand the him the victory. The lefty's 15 wins are his highest total since he won 21 back in 2012, and he'll look to add to that total Tuesday in Philadelphia.

Gonzalez passed the 180-inning mark for the season Tuesday, causing his $12 million club option for 2018 to automatically vest, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports.

That could be a terrific bargain for the Nats if the 31-year-old lefty is able to come anywhere close to the 2.68 ERA and 1.15 WHIP he's posted so far this season. There are signs that Gonzalez will likely take a step backwards in 2018 -- from his 3.92 FIP to an average fastball velocity that has dipped below 90 mph for the first time since he became a regular big-league starter in 2010 -- but even if his performance returns to something closer to his career numbers, he'll be an important cog in a rotation anchored by aces Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.

Gonzalez (14-7) allowed rive runs on seven hits and one walk across five innings while taking the loss Tuesday against the Braves. He struck out eight.

Gonzalez threw 67 percent of his pitches for strikes, but he missed over the plate with frequency and couldn't put hitters away. The biggest hit came in the form of a three-run home run by Freddie Freeman, but his teammates didn't score a single run on the day and sunk him to his seventh loss. Gonzalez has pitched wonderfully for the majority of the season, but he has been roughed up for five earned runs in two of his last three starts. He is next scheduled to take the mound Sunday against the Dodgers.

Gonzalez (14-6) pitched five scoreless innings against Miami on Wednesday, striking out four while allowing three hits and three walks in a winning effort.

It took the veteran lefty 101 pitches (just 55 strikes) to finish those five frames, but such inefficiency has been the exception rather than the rule for him. After all, Gonzalez had finished at least six innings in seven consecutive starts and 16 of his last 17 coming into Wednesday's action. Rumors of his demise were greatly exaggerated after he scuffled through 2016 with a 4.57 ERA, as Gonzalez has been one of the best pitchers in the National League this year. He lines up to make his next start Tuesday against Atlanta.

Gonzalez (13-6) took the loss against the Brewers on Thursday, giving up five runs on eight hits and three walks over six innings while striking out seven.

The outing snapped a streak of six straight quality starts for the left-hander, and the five runs were the most Gonzalez has given up since early May. He still wrapped up August with a strong 2.23 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 27:8 K:BB in 32.1 innings, and will kick off September with a road start in Miami on Tuesday.