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Nationals-Braves Preview

Jun 29, 2010 - 4:29 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Washington (33-43) at Atlanta (44-32), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Jason Heyward's decreased production at the plate has coincided with Atlanta's struggles over the past week.

Now, the Braves will have to get by without their star rookie's bat until after the All-Star break.

One night after placing Heyward on the disabled list, NL East-leading Atlanta will try to rely on its veteran core Tuesday as it continues its home series against the slumping Washington Nationals.

The Braves (45-32) put Heyward on the 15-day DL with a deep bone bruise in his left thumb following Monday's 5-0 series-opening win. The club originally hadn't thought the injury was that serious, but an MRI earlier in the day proved otherwise. Heyward will be eligible to come off the DL during the All-Star break.

"We're doing the best thing, I believe," he said. "Right now is a good opportunity to get it done, get the rest done, get the strength back so I'll be able to come back the second half."

As Heyward leads all NL rookies with 11 homers and 45 RBIs, the DL stint could jeopardize his possible spot on the All-Star team. He ranks second among NL outfielders in early voting.

The thumb injury has bothered Heyward for weeks, and it's been showing at the plate. He went on the DL mired in a 1-for-16 slump and has one home run in his last 26 games.

Atlanta still leads second-place New York by 1 1/2 games, but has lost four of seven and isn't the same team without Heyward's production. The Braves are 21-8 when the right fielder has at least one RBI, and 24-24 when he fails to drive in a run.

Without Heyward, Atlanta will count on Chipper Jones, Brian McCann and Troy Glaus to carry the offense.

Jones is batting .385 with 10 RBIs during a season-best 11-game hitting streak, and McCann has homered three times in his last eight games, but Glaus is batting .130 with one RBI in his last eight.

Derek Lowe (9-5, 4.42 ERA) will take the ball for the Braves on Tuesday after allowing five hits in seven scoreless innings in Thursday's 2-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox. It was the fifth time in seven starts the right-hander yielded two runs or fewer.

Lowe has been at his best pitching in Atlanta in 2010, going 6-2 with a 3.81 ERA in eight starts at Turner Field.

This will be Lowe's first start of the season against the Nationals (33-44) after making six against them last year. The sinkerballer struggled against Washington in 2009, going 1-3 with a 5.06 ERA.

Lowe will aim for a better result against a Washington club that has lost five straight, 11 of 13 and is 1-12 on the road this month.

Craig Stammen (1-2, 5.43) is expected to be recalled from the minors to take the hill for the Nationals, although manager Jim Riggleman could not confirm that following Monday's loss.

Stammen opened the season on Washington's roster but was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse on June 6 after 12 starts and only one victory. The right-hander had little trouble for the Chiefs, going 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts.

In his lone outing against the Braves on Aug. 12, Stammen allowed two runs and four hits in six innings. He didn't get a decision in the Nationals' 6-2 loss.