Washington @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2010 ) Washington 2, Atlanta 3

The Atlanta Braves keep finding ways to win at Turner Field – often in dramatic fashion.

The National League East-leading Braves look to extend their winning streak to five games when they go for the three-game sweep Thursday against the Washington Nationals.

Rookie Jason Heyward's RBI single with two outs in the ninth inning Wednesday gave the Braves a 3-2 win against the Nationals. It was their league-leading 21st victory in their last at-bat, and ensured yet another series victory at Turner Field. Atlanta hasn't lost a series at home since dropping two of three to Philadelphia from April 20-22.

Atlanta has won 11 of 14 to remain 2 1/2 games ahead of the Phillies in the NL East, and stellar pitching has been the key. Braves starters have not allowed more than three earned runs in 17 games this month.

Derek Lowe (11-10) looks to continue that trend. The 37-year-old right-hander has endured an up-and-down season, but he has been much better at home than on the road. He's 8-4 with a 3.69 ERA in 13 starts at Turner Field compared with a 3-6 mark and a 4.96 ERA away from home.

Things have gone more smoothly for Lowe lately – he is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts this month.

He'll try to keep that up against a team that has given him problems. Lowe is 0-2 against the Nationals this season, allowing four runs in 5 2/3 innings in a 7-2 loss June 29 in Atlanta and surrendering four runs over five innings in a 5-3 loss one month later in Washington.

Lowe is 6-6 with a 4.04 ERA in 20 appearances – 14 starts – against the Nationals. Several Nationals have been thorns in Lowe's side, including Adam Kennedy (13-for-35), Cristian Guzman (12-for-32), Nyjer Morgan (10-for-19) and Ian Desmond (4-for-6, 2 HR).

The Nationals send John Lannan (4-5) to the mound hoping the 25-year-old left-hander will continue his resurgence after a six-week stint at Double-A Harrisburg.

Lannan is 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three outings since returning from the minors. He has won his last two starts, holding the Dodgers to three runs over six innings in a 6-3 win Aug. 6 and limiting Arizona to two runs over seven innings in a 4-2 win Friday.

Lannan has somehow missed the Braves in all three of the teams' previous series this season. He is 3-4 with a 3.44 ERA in eight starts against Atlanta in his career.

Two of Lannan's biggest Braves nemeses – Chipper Jones and Troy Glaus – are on the disabled list, but he'll still have to contend with Brian McCann (6-for-19) and Matt Diaz (7-for-16).

The Braves acquired first baseman Derrek Lee from the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday, but Lee won't join the Braves until they face the Cubs on Friday at Wrigley Field.

Lee is hitting .251 with 16 home runs and 56 RBIs for the Cubs. He got off to a slow start this season, but is 5-for-11 with four homers in his past three games.