Atlanta @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 16, 2013 ) Atlanta 0, Washington 0

The Atlanta Braves pursuit of the National League East title and the Washington Nationals’ late-season surge took a backseat to somber events Monday, when the shooting at the Washington Naval Yard led to the postponement of the opener of a three-game series. The two teams return to action for a day-night doubleheader Tuesday, with the Braves maintaining a 10-game lead over the Nationals. The Braves are searching to re-ignite their offense with two weeks remaining in the regular season, having scored three runs or less nine times in 14 games this month.

Washington has kept the Braves from clinching by winning 10 of its past 12 contests, moving within five games of Cincinnati for the second NL wild-card spot. The Nationals’ offense has roared to live recently, scoring 6.1 runs per game since Sept. 3 and posting six runs or more seven times in their past nine games. Denard Span collected two hits in Sunday’s victory over Philadelphia to extend his hitting streak to 26 games.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta), MASN (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Mike Minor (13-7, 3.15 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Dan Haren (9-13, 5.02)

Minor has been outstanding for Atlanta most of the season, but is 2-2 with a 4.79 ERA in his past six starts. The 25-year-old Chapel Hill, Tenn., native, who struggled with home runs early in his career, has given up five long balls in his past three starts. He has no record in two starts versus the Nationals in 2013, allowing six earned runs in 7 2/3 innings (a 7.04 ERA).

Haren made one of his best starts of the season Wednesday at New York, holding the Mets to one hit with one walk and eight strikeouts in six shutout innings. The Monterey Park, Calif., native, who turns 33 on Tuesday, is 5-2 in his past 10 starts after starting the year 4-11. He is 1-0 in two games against Atlanta this season, allowing one run on five hits.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington is a major-league best 25-10 since Aug. 9 and has won six of its past seven series.

2. Haren earned the first save of his 11-year career Aug. 17 in Atlanta, pitching a scoreless 15th inning.

3. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman has a seven-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Nationals 4