Atlanta @ Washington preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2013 ) Atlanta 5, Washington 6

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: 7:05 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta), MASN2 (Washington)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Freddy Garcia (1-1, 1.32 ERA) vs. Nationals RH Tanner Roark (6-0, 1.30)

Garcia pitched well in his first start with Atlanta on Thursday in Miami, limited the Marlins to one run on five hits in six innings. He pitched eight scoreless innings for Baltimore in his only appearance against Washington this season on May 30, striking out six in getting the victory. The 15-year veteran went 3-5 with a 5.77 ERA in 11 games (10 starts) for the Orioles.

Roark impressed the Nationals with his work out of the bullpen after being called up from Triple-A Syracuse, and in his first two starts has allowed two runs in 12 innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. He beat Miami and the Mets in those two starts after going 4-0 with a 1.19 ERA in nine relief appearances. He has surrendered three earned runs in his past 23 innings.

WALK-OFFS

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

2. Roark pitched four innings of one-hit scoreless relief in Atlanta on Aug. 17, striking out six.

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

PREDICTION: Nationals 4, Braves 1