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Nationals' Wednesday Night Lineup vs the NL East's First-Place Braves

Washington looks to avoid the second home sweep of the year at the hands of the Atlanta Braves with Nationals' right-hander Jordan Zimmermann on the hill tonight in the nation's capital in the finale of the three-game set with the current NL East division leaders.

By Patrick Reddington
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Washington's 0-5 against Atlanta at home in the nation's capital so far in 2013 with one more game left in this week's series with the NL East's first-place Braves. Nationals' manager Davey Johnson was asked during his weekly interview with 106.7 the FAN in D.C.'s The Sports Junkies this morning if he had any more tricks up his sleeve or lineup configurations he could try in order to finally get the offense humming. "I've been up and down two or three times in the middle of the night thinking, 'Man, should I go back to my opening day lineup... blah, blah, blah, just mix them up?' I don't know."

"I've been up and down two or three times in the middle of the night thinking, 'Man, should I go back to my opening day lineup...'" - Davey Johnson on Nats' lineup

"I don't think it really matters how you hit them, to be honest with you," Johnson said. "The only thing that's important is you want to get your guys that get on base early and you don't want to have a lay down for the opposing manager's bullpen." Johnson tried his higher-OBP guys like Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon at the top of the lineup coming out of the break, but tonight he's got Denard Span (.350 OBP vs RHP) back up top with Ryan Zimmerman batting second for the second straight game:

Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound against the Braves tonight, trying to bring a halt to their 12-game win streak and avoid the second series sweep at the hands of their divisional rivals in Nationals Park. The Braves took three straight from the Nats back in the second week of April. Zimmermann, as the Nats' game notes mention, is looking for his first win at home since he and the Nationals beat the Milwaukee Brewers on July 1st. Zimmermann's (0-2) in three starts in D.C. since that win. His loss to the Dodgers on July 21st broke a streak of 14 straight wins at home in Washington.

The Nats' 27-year-old right-hander is (9-2) in 13 starts at home in Nationals Park this season with a 2.83 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 17 walks (1.78 BB/9) and 60 Ks (6.28 K/9) in 86 IP in which he's held opposing hitters to a .221/.262/.346 line. Against the Braves in his career, the '07 2nd Round pick is (3-1) with a 2.97 ERA, 9 BB (2.23 BB/9), 31 Ks (7.68 HR/9) and a 1.02 WHIP in six starts and 36 1/3 IP. Can Zimmermann stop the mighty Braves from Atlanta? Will he plunk someone? Drama in the District. And it all starts... RIGHT NOW!! or at 7:05 pm EDT.

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