Some fun could be had in Atlanta (with postseason ticket update)

Turner Field has been a house of horrors for the Nationals over the last couple of years.

Within the next three days, the Nats could find themselves storming the mound at Turner Field, popping bottles in the visitors clubhouse and punching their playoff ticket at their top rival's expense on the Braves' home turf.

Following this weekend's activity, in which the Nats took three of four from the Mets while the Braves continued their lengthy slide by getting swept by the Rangers (who happen to have the worst record in the major leagues, mind you), the Nationals now have a 10 1/2-game lead in the National League East.

Their magic number is now four, which means this: If the Nats can win two of their three games in Atlanta over the next three days, they will clinch their second division title in three years.

That's got to be the next-best thing to clinching at home, right?

If you can't lock up a postseason spot in front of your home fans and celebrate with all your friends and family, you might as well do it in your rival's house, as they watch on jealously.

The Nats continue to trend upward as the postseason approaches, having gone 21-10 in their last 31, while the Braves have now gone 58-65 since starting the season 17-9. They have a run differential of minus-1, as compared to plus-118 for the Nats.

The Nats haven't had a winning percentage lower than .583 in any month since May. The Braves haven't had a winning percentage higher than .536 since April.

OK, you get it. The Nationals are playing well. The Braves aren't.

Stephen Strasburg (11-11, 3.46 ERA) will try and get things off on the right foot in Atlanta tonight, when he opposes Ervin Santana (14-8, 3.76 ERA). Tomorrow will see Tanner Roark (13-10, 2.96 ERA) square off against Aaron Harang (11-10, 3.72 ERA). And thenon Wednesday, Gio Gonzalez (8-10, 3.79 ERA) will get the ball against Alex Wood (10-10, 2.83 ERA).

The Nats want to wrap this thing up as quickly as possible. They want to officially put the Braves to bed in the division. They want to continue their pursuit of the best record in the National League (they're currently up a half-game over the Dodgers in that race), which would lock up home-field advantage through the National League Championship Series.

Some fun could be had at Turner Field these next few days.

Update: The Nationals announced this morning that tickets for potential National League Division Series games at Nationals Park will go on sale to the general public on Monday, Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. A maximum of four tickets for each game may be purchased either online at nationals.com/postseason or by calling 888-632-NATS (6287) on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets will be unavailable for purchase at the box office.

In addition, the Nationals Park Box Office will sell a limited number of standing room only tickets the day of each postseason game, subject to availability. Grandstand seating will not be available for purchase day-of-game during the 2014 postseason. In the event the Nationals qualify, National League Championship Series and World Series single game tickets will go on sale in the coming weeks, based on availability.

Season plan holders and NATS PLUS members received information regarding their opportunity to purchase single game postseason tickets earlier this month. Fans only have a few more days to place a deposit on 2015 full season ticket plans and receive 2014 postseason ticket purchase priority before tickets go on sale to the general public.