Washington @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( May 1, 2013 ) Washington 2, Atlanta 0

The Washington Nationals finally ended a long losing streak in their rivalry with the Atlanta Braves. They will look to establish a run of their own when the teams cap a four-game set at Turner Field on Thursday. The Braves had won nine straight against the Nationals before Jordan Zimmermann pitched Washington to a 2-0 victory Wednesday. The triumph did not come without some concern for the Nationals, who saw star right fielder Bryce Harper leave with a bruised left side in the sixth inning.

Harper is considered day-to-day and told reporters that he wants to play Thursday, but he was in obvious pain after a check-swing in his final at-bat. He had already walked and scored on Ian Desmond's two-run homer, the only runs Zimmermann would need in helping Washington pick up its first win since Saturday. Atlanta has been shut out five times already, including twice in its last six games. The Braves did end their streak of six straight games with at least 10 strikeouts, but they fanned nine times and remain far ahead of any other team in the National League in that category.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Dan Haren (2-3, 6.29 ERA) vs. Braves RH Kris Medlen (1-3, 3.26)

Following an unimpressive start to his Washington career, Haren took a step forward with six solid innings in a win over Cincinnati on Saturday. He gave up two runs on six hits to improve to 2-1 at Nationals Park. Haren did not walk a batter and struck out five for the third time in five starts. The six innings was a season high for Haren. He has not gone a full seven in his last 11 appearances. Haren has not faced Atlanta since 2010, but he owns a 7.31 ERA in three starts at Turner Field.

Medlen's phenomenal run of dominance over the second half of 2012 and the early portions of 2013 has hit a bit of a roadblock. After allowing a total of three earned runs in his first three starts, he's been reached for eight in his last two outings and surrendered a career-high 10 hits Saturday in Detroit, including a pair of home runs. Medlen had gone 16 straight starts without allowing more than three earned runs before the Tigers got to him for five in just 5 1/3 frames. He is 2-1 with a 1.67 ERA in 11 appearances (two starts) against the Nationals.

WALK-OFFS

1. Nationals OF Jayson Werth (ankle, hamstring) sat for the second straight game Wednesday.

2. Braves CF B.J. Upton went 0-for-3 on Wednesday, dropping his average to .138.

3. Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg had no pain in a bullpen session Wednesday and remains on target to start at Pittsburgh on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Nationals 4