Atlanta @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2014 ) Washington 1, Atlanta 3

The Washington Nationals are on the cusp of winning the National League East for the second time in three years, and open a three-game home series with the second-place Atlanta Braves on Monday. The Nationals bring a seven-game division lead into the series and, despite losing nine of 13 matchups to Atlanta this season, have gone 26-18 overall since knocking the Braves out of first place on July 21. Atlanta, which hosts the Nationals for three games next week, is 20-24 during that stretch and stands one-half game out in the race for the NL's second wild card..

The Braves have been shut out four times while scoring just 15 runs and hitting .198 as a team over the last eight games after collecting only five hits in Sunday’s 4-0 loss at Miami. Washington has struggled closing out games and removed Rafael Soriano from the closer’s role following his blown save Friday before Drew Storen finished up in Sunday’s 3-2 victory over Philadelphia. Adam LaRoche homered twice for the Nationals on Sunday, and is 5-for-16 with four homers and 10 RBIs in his past four contests.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportSouth (Atlanta), MASN 2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Mike Minor (6-9, 4.65 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Doug Fister (12-6, 2.66)

Minor has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his past five starts, but is 2-2 in that stretch. He gave up three runs on seven hits in 7 1/3 innings Tuesday against the Phillies in a 4-0 loss. Minor got a no-decision in his only start against the Nationals this season, allowing two runs on seven hits in seven innings with 11 strikeouts on June 20.

Fister has struggled of late, losing his past three starts while allowing 11 earned runs on 27 hits in 16 2/3 innings. He beat the Braves with eight shutout innings of five-hit ball June 21 at home, starting a 10-start stretch in which Fister went 7-1 with a 1.57 ERA. Fister gave up four runs (three earned) on 10 hits in five innings Tuesday in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington leads the NL with 50 homers since Aug. 1.

2. Atlanta 3B Chris Johnson is 1-for-16 in his past six games, and is hitting .214 since Aug. 6.

3. Nationals SS Ian Desmond is two stolen bases away from his third consecutive season of 20-plus homers and 20-plus steals.

PREDICTION: Nationals 3, Braves 1