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NL East foes clash as Braves visit Nationals

Jun 23, 2015 - 2:16 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals are both coming off successful weekend sweeps, and now the National League East rivals will face each other on Tuesday night to open a three-game series at Nationals Park.

Atlanta swept the New York Mets at home over the weekend. The Braves had Monday off following a 1-0 victory on Sunday. Julio Teheran yielded only one hit over seven shutout innings as he out-dueled Mets ace Matt Harvey. It was a scoreless game until the seventh when Pedro Ciriaco pinch-hit for Teheran and drove in the game's only run with a two-out single to center.

The Braves (35-35) gave up only five runs and 18 hits in the three-game series and now take aim at their first four-game winning streak since starting 5-0. However, Freddie Freeman has missed the last four games with a sprained left wrist and appears likely headed for a stint on the disabled list.

Meanwhile, Washington (37-33) is coming off a three-game over Pittsburgh while yielding just three runs and 14 hits for the series. Max Scherzer tossed a no- hitter on Saturday, while Joe Ross and Gio Gonzalez also turned in strong efforts.

"The last three guys that we've had start games have pitched really well," manager Matt Williams said. "That sets our tone."

Washington is looking to build on Sunday's 9-2 win over Miami, in which the offense scored all nine of its runs in the first inning. Bryce Harper went deep for the 24th time this season and is hitting at a .404 clip with six homers and 12 RBI over his last 13 games. Harper has also fared well against Atlanta, batting 10-for-20 with three homers and nine RBI over his last five meetings as well as 7-for-14 lifetime off Tuesday's starter, Alex Wood.

The Nats have not announced a starter for Tuesday's opener, although Stephen Strasburg could return from the 15-day DL after looking sharp in a rehab start on Wednesday and then getting through a bullpen session on Saturday with no setbacks. Williams said the team would look at Strasburg on Monday, then he said a decision may not come until Tuesday morning. The 2009 No. 1 overall pick has struggled mightily this season with a 6.55 ERA.

Alex Wood gets the nod for Atlanta. The southpaw has worked on improving his sinker and changeup of late and has allowed just one earned run in four of his last six starts.

First place in the NL East is on the line this week, as Washington entered Tuesday with a 1 1/2-game lead over the Mets and a two-game cushion over the Braves. The Nats have won five of six head-to-head meetings with Atlanta so far this season.