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Nationals aim to stop slide in Atlanta

Apr 27, 2015 - 2:14 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The reeling Washington Nationals continue their road trip at Turner Field on Monday night as they begin a three-game series with the Atlanta Braves.

Washington kicked off its 10-game road trip by getting swept in Miami over the weekend. The team enters Monday's opener trying to avoid a sixth consecutive loss overall.

The Nationals were outhit, 14-4, in Sunday's finale with the Marlins as they lost 6-2. They have totaled only five runs over the last four games.

"We surely didn't want to start like this," Nats outfielder Bryce Harper said. "We're a great team, and we'll get it going."

Things have not gone much better of late for Atlanta, which has lost five of six after dropping back-to-back series in New York and Philadelphia. The Braves outhit the Phillies, 10-6, in Sunday's series finale but lost 5-4.

Starter Trevor Cahill allowed a three-run home run to Ryan Howard in the first inning, and the right-hander went on to allow four runs in six innings to drop to 0-3. Still, first baseman Freddie Freeman said it was on the Braves offense to take advantage of opportunities that were out there.

"We had some runners on base today, and we just didn't get them all in," said Freeman, who doubled twice to end a 1-for-21 skid at the plate. "We made a lot of errors this road trip. I think we need to come back expecting to play better baseball (Monday)."

Atlanta will turn to left-hander Eric Stults, who remains in search of his first win in 2015 on Monday. The left-hander got a no-decision against the Mets his last time out, as he went six innings and gave up just one run on four hits. He struck out five and walked none, a clear turnaround from his first two starts after he allowed three homers.

Stults owns a 5.17 ERA in three career starts against Washington.

Washington's Doug Fister will look to improve upon a shaky outing in his previous start tonight. The right-hander surrendered five runs in the opening three frames against St. Louis on Wednesday, although he did ultimately settle down and was charged with just one run over the next three innings for a no- decision.

Fister is 3-0 with a lifetime 1.23 ERA against Atlanta.

The Braves went 11-8 against the Nats last season.