Washington @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 29, 2012 ) Washington 5, Atlanta 4

Washington looks to continue its dominance at Turner Field against one of its chief NL East rivals. The Nationals beat Atlanta in the opener of a three-game weekend series Friday night, improving to 4-0at Turner Field on the season and 5-1 overall against the Braves overall. The Nationals bring plenty of momentum into the middle game of the series, rallying on Michael Morse’s eighth-inning homer after squandering a 4-0 lead. The Braves have dropped four of their past six games.

Saturday’s pitching matchup is a rematch from five weeks ago at Turner Field. Atlanta’s Mike Minor gave up four runs in the first two innings on May 26. But Washington ace Stephen Strasburg surrendered the lead and left with the game tied. Washington rallied to take the lead in sixth, making Strasburg a winner as the Nationals won their second of three consecutive games in Atlanta. Washington has won three of its past four and owns the NL’s best record at 44-31.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, MASN HD (Washington), SportSouth (Atlanta).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Washington RH Stephen Strasburg (9-2, 2.60 ERA) vs. Atlanta LH Mike Minor (3-6, 6.14).

Strasburg’s six-start winning streak ended in Colorado on Monday, but the right-hander didn’t pitch poorly. Baseball’s strikeout leader (118) gave up six hits and three earned runs with one walk and eight strikeouts. A virtual lock to make the All-Star team, Strasburg has beaten Atlanta twice this season, striking out 15 in 12 innings.

Minor’s struggles are a big reason the Braves likely will look to bolster their rotation at the trade deadline. The left-hander surrendered six hits and four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings Sunday, losing at Boston. Minor cruised until the fourth inning, when he gave up consecutive walks and consecutive homers.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta OF Martin Prado did not start Friday’s game with a sore hamstring. He lined a pinch-hit single to right in the seventh inning. In his past five games, Prado is 7-for-17.

2. Morse went 4-for-4 in the series opener, raising his average to .294.

3. Atlanta 2B Dan Uggla did not start Friday for the first time all season. Uggla is hitting just .156 (12-for-77) in June.