Opposite dugout: Braves have been owned by Nationals this season

Manager: Brian Snitker (1st season)

Record: 54-83

Last 10 games: 8-2

Who to watch: 1B Freddie Freeman (.294/.396/.563 with 29 HR, 79 RBIs), CF Ender Inciarte (.291), RF Nick Markakis (.264, 75 RBIs), LF Matt Kemp (24 HR, 58 RBIs), RHP Mike Foltynewicz (8-5, 4.31 ERA), RHP Jim Johnson (3.08 ERA, 15 saves)

Season series vs. Nationals: 2-11

Pitching probables:

Sept. 5: RHP Ryan Weber vs. RHP Max Scherzer, 4:05 p.m., MASN2
Sept. 6: RHP Williams Perez vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez, 7:05 p.m., MASN2
Sept. 7: RHP Mike Foltynewicz vs. TBA, 7:05 p.m., MASN

Inside the Braves:

When the season is over - or at least when they clinch the National League East for the third time in five years - the Nationals should send a thank-you gift south to Turner Field. The Braves, mired in last place in the division and battling with the woebegone Twins for the right to pick first in next June's First-Year Player Draft, have been a tasty morsel for the Nationals to feast on this season. Eleven times in 13 meetings between the teams, the Nats have won, taking advantage of poor hitting, ineffective pitching and a general malaise that has engulfed a once-proud franchise to fatten the divide between them and the second-place Mets. OK, in fairness, the Braves have played a little better in their 100 games under first-time major league skipper Brian Snitker - and have reeled off six straight wins entering their series in D.C. - but this can't be the kind of season the folks in Atlanta wanted to use as a springboard into a new park that will open in the suburbs next year. And it's been next year for a long time already in Atlanta.

The problems with the Braves are too numerous to detail, but the fact that they've scored the second-fewest runs (525) in the majors and hit the fewest home runs (98) offset whatever meager gains their patchwork pitching staff has made as the season has worn on. Take away first baseman Freddie Freeman, whose 29 homers are the most of any player who's been with the team all season, and there's no power to speak of. The curious acquisition of left fielder Matt Kemp, whose 28 homers between the Padres and Braves are his most since he slugged 39 in 2011, will help in that department. But does a rebuilding club really need to be weighted down by a player whose defensive skills are declining and whose contract is an albatross? Right fielder Nick Markakis is cranking out his typical workmanlike year and has driven in a team-high 75 runs, and the return of center fielder Ender Inciarte from a left hamstring strain at least gives the Braves a guy who can run and catch balls, plus someone to set the table atop the lineup. He brings a 13-game hitting streak into the series. Top prospect Dansby Swanson, a shortstop who was the first overall pick in the 2015 draft, is getting on-the-job training, but has struggled to adjust to major league pitching so far, batting only .236 in 15 games.

Righty Ryan Weber draws the assignment for the Labor Day afternoon game, and it's his first start of the season after 12 relief appearances. In three career appearances (one start) against the Nationals, he's 0-1 with a 2.31 ERA. Another righty, Williams Perez, is Tuesday night's starter, and his 4.62 ERA belies a 1.212 WHIP over nine major league starts this season. He's 0-1 in his last three starts, and is 1-0 with a 5.68 ERA in two appearances (one start) in his career against the Nationals. Perez posted a 3.08 ERA in four May starts, struggled in two June starts and was sent to the minors. This is his first outing since being recalled. Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz at least has a winning record to show for his 19 starts, and he's 4-0 over his past six outings. One of those victories came over Washington in his lone career start versus the Nats, though he didn't pitch particularly well, surrendering four runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings.

With righty Arodys Vizcaino on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, veteran right-hander Jim Johnson has reassumed closer duties for the Braves. He's posted 15 saves in 18 chances this season, and many were surprised he wasn't spun off to a contender at the trading deadline.