Washington @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 3, 2012 ) Atlanta 3, Washington 2

Washington rallied from a 7-0 deficit Thursday to force extra innings in Colorado before suffering an 11-10 defeat. The Braves opened their current 10-game homestand with back-to-back wins over Arizona before the Diamondbacks avoided the sweep with a 3-2 triumph on Thursday night. Atlanta, which remains 3 1/2 games behind the Nationals in the National League East, is 1-4 against Washington this year and was swept at home in late May.

Despite the emergence of 19-year-old phenom Bryce Harper, the Nationals still have one of baseball’s least productive offenses. Fortunately, they have more than made up for it with a pitching staff that leads the major leagues in almost every major category. The Braves have combined a potent lineup with solid pitching from NL ERA leader Brandon Beachy and closer Craig Kimbrel, the league leader in saves despite taking the loss on Thursday.

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), PTV (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Ross Detwiler (4-3, 3.09 ERA) vs. Braves RH Randall Delgado (4-8, 4.52)

Due to Washington’s overabundance of quality starting pitching, Detwiler had been working out of the bullpen for most of June before returning to the rotation Sunday at Baltimore. He pitched five scoreless innings in a no-decison, extending his string of shutout frames to 12 1/3 dating back to June 8. Detwiler is 1-0 with a 3.80 ERA in seven games (four starts) against Atlanta.

Delgado has lost three consecutive starts, including a rough trip at Boston on June 23 (1 1/3 IP, 6 H, 4 ER), but a lack of run support hasn’t helped — Atlanta failed to score in his two previous trips to the mound, both at home. He has been consistent, allowing more than four runs just once in 14 starts. Delgado will be facing Washington for the first time in his career.

WALK-OFFS

1. Washington has won Detwiler’s last six starts against National League East opponents, and the Nationals have won 23 of their last 33 division games.

2. Atlanta LF Martin Prado is 6-for-12 with three doubles and a triple against Detwiler. CF Michael Bourn and 2B Dan Uggla, conversely, are each hitless in six at-bats.

3. The Braves are 16-5 in their last Friday games, but they have lost five of Delgado’s last six home starts.