Washington @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 16, 2011 ) Washington 5, Atlanta 2

THE STORY: The Atlanta Braves have eight more victories than the Washington Nationals this season, but you could never tell it by their head-to-head meetings. The two clubs have split eight games, including the first two of the three-game series which concludes Sunday in Atlanta. The Braves missed a chance to pick up ground on the Phillies, who lost Saturday, and continue to play average against teams in the National League East (18-17).

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, MASN (Washington), FS South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Nationals LH Tom Gorzelanny (2-6, 3.94 ERA) vs. Braves RH Jair Jurrjens (12-3, 1.87).

Gorzelanny has lost four straight games, but has pitched better than his record indicates. He is 0-1 over his last three starts despite a 2.25 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 20 innings. He has had trouble with the long ball, allowing 14 in 77 2/3 innings, including 12 to right-handed batters. He is 0-3 in day games with the opposition batting .292 against him. He has pitched well against Atlanta, going 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA in four career starts. He hasn't faced the Braves this year. Jurrjens has been outstanding in winning his last four starts, allowing three runs and 17 hits over 26 1/3 innings (1.03 ERA) with 16 strikeouts. He has been overpowering at home, going 7-1 with a 1.78 ERA and opponents hitting .205. He is 2-0 in day games. Jurrjens is 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA in nine career starts against Washington, but hasn't faced the Nationals this season.

ABOUT THE NATIONALS (47-47): Michael Morse has hit safely in six of the last seven games, going 9-for-27 during that stretch. But Morse, who has 15 home runs, has not gone deep since June 27, a span of 13 games. Danny Espinosa, who has a team-leading 16 homers, has hit only one in his last 13 games. Ryan Zimmerman’s seven-game hitting streak ended Saturday. Setup man Ryan Mattheus has appeared in eight straight games (seven innings) without allowing a run. Washington turned two double plays and played outstanding defensively Saturday, one day after becoming the first team since 2007 to commit five errors in two games during the same season.

ABOUT THE BRAVES (55-39): Chipper Jones worked out Friday and Saturday and said he expects to return to the active list July 24, the first day he is eligible after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee. Dan Uggla has hit safely in eight straight games and boosted his average to .187 after going 1-for-2 on Saturday - his average hasn’t been that high since May 22. Alex Gonzalez has hit safely in five of the last seven games, but is only 6-for-31 during that stretch. Gonzalez hit his eighth home run Saturday, his first since June 10. All-Star relievers Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel have yet to pitch in the series.

FINAL PITCH: Washington manager Davey Johnson said injured ace Stephen Strasburg threw 45 pitches against live hitters for the first time since his Tommy John surgery Sept. 13, 2010. Strasburg could possibly pitch before the end of the season.