Washington @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 14, 2013 ) Atlanta 9, Washington 0

The Atlanta Braves have to be thrilled to return home after staggering through the end of a 10-game road trip, but they will receive another stern test when the Washington Nationals come to town to begin a three-game series Monday night. Atlanta has dropped four straight after a three-game sweep in Detroit over the weekend. The Braves had the best record in the majors, including a three-game sweep of the Nationals, before the 3-7 road trip.

Getting swept in Atlanta earlier this month was the start of a spiral in which the Nationals drop nine of 12 games. Washington showed signs of bouncing back and reclaiming its early-season form by taking three of four from Cincinnati, getting denied a sweep with a 5-2 loss Sunday. The Nationals will open the series with ace right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who has lost four consecutive starts since throwing seven scoreless innings in his season debut.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ESPN, MASN (Washington), Fox Sports South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals RH Stephen Strasburg (1-4, 3.16 ERA) vs. Braves RH Julio Teheran (1-0, 5.48)

Washington has scored only nine runs total in Strasburg's five starts and seven during his four-game skid. He pitched better than the numbers indicate in his last start against St. Louis, putting himself in a 3-0 first-inning hole before limiting the Cardinals to two hits over the final six innings. Strasburg is 3-4 with a 3.59 ERA in eight career starts against Atlanta, including a 3-1 home loss on April 13 in which he gave up two unearned runs on five hits while striking out seven.

Teheran finally broke into the win column last time out, limiting Colorado to one run on eight hits in seven strong innings. It marked the longest outing in 11 career appearances (eight starts) for the 22-year-old Colombian, who did not factor in the decision after giving up four runs on six hits in six innings at Washington on April 12. Teheran has already surrendered five homers in 23 innings, including a two-run shot to the Nationals' Bryce Harper.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Braves struck out 39 times in the three-game thumping by Detroit.

2. The Nationals were outscored 18-5 by the Braves in first series this season.

3. Braves 2B Dan Uggla is 9-for-20 with two homers and eight RBIs against Strasburg.

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Braves 2