Washington @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( May 31, 2013 ) Washington 3, Atlanta 2

The Washington Nationals are trying to keep pace with the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, but they could be hamstrung by injuries to their two youngest stars. Right fielder Bryce Harper has missed five straight games due to an ailing knee and will not play against the host Braves in this weekend's series, which resumes Saturday night. Washington is awaiting an update on the condition of ace Stephen Strasburg, who suffered a strained oblique in Friday's 3-2 win.

Atlanta managed only four hits in Friday's defeat. Two of them came off the bat of infielder Ramiro Pena, who is making a strong case for more playing time with multi-hit games in each of his last four starts. Freddie Freeman also had two hits Friday, including a homer, to continue his torrid stretch. He is 15-for-34 with seven multi-hit games in his last eight.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (3-3, 3.90 ERA) vs. Braves RH Tim Hudson (4-4, 5.37)

Even though he had little to show for it, Gonzalez seemingly had turned a corner with four straight solid starts before giving up four runs in 5 2/3innings against Baltimore last time out. Control issues have plagued Gonzalez, who has permitted at least three walks in half of his 10 starts - including four in his last turn. He lost at Atlanta on April 30, allowing five runs in four innings.

Hudson won four of his first five decisions but since has hit a rough patch, going 0-3 in his last four starts and giving up at least five runs in three of them. He was rocked for six runs and a pair of homers in six innings at Toronto last time out and registered a season-low one strikeout. He has beaten the Nationals twice this year, allowing two runs on seven hits in 14 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta batters fanned 10 times Friday. Dan Uggla (68), B.J. Upton (63) and Justin Upton (62) rank first, third and fourth in the NL in strikeouts.

2. CF Denard Span became the third Nationals player to have two triples in one game.

3. Washington has won three straight against the Braves after dropping the first five meetings this season. The Nationals trail Atlanta by 4 1/2 games.

PREDICTION: Braves 3, Nationals 2