Washington Nationals vs. Atlanta Braves: ESPN Sunday Night Baseball Preview

The Washington Nationals (28-18) and Atlanta Braves (26-22) will close out a three-game National League East series on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball, with the first pitch scheduled from Turner Field at 8:05 ET.

Atlanta opened as a minus-140 home favorite in the betting odds, while the total is holding steady at its opening number of 6.5.

Washington has outscored Atlanta by a 15-8 combined margin in winning the first two games of the series, including an 8-4 victory Saturday afternoon. The Nationals will now try to turnaround their dismal 1-5 record when playing on Sunday.

Let's take a closer look at this nationally-televised contest from a betting perspective.

Washington Nationals Starting Pitcher Gio Gonzalez

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez (6-1, 1.98 ERA) has won four consecutive starts, coming off a 2-1 road victory over the Philadelphia Phillies last time out. He allowed three hits and struck out nine batters in tossing six shutout innings.

The left-hander is 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in five road starts, while not surrendering a single home run in 26.2 combined innings.

Gonzalez will be making his first career start against the Braves.

Atlanta Braves Starting Pitcher Brandon Beachy

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Brandon Beachy (5-2, 1.77 ERA) had his personal five-game win streak snapped in dropping a 4-3 road decision to the Cincinnati Reds last time out, allowing four runs and six hits over seven frames.

The right-hander has tallied a perfect 2-0 record and 0.78 ERA in three home outings, limiting the opposition to a .160 batting average. He has also not surrendered a round tripper in 23 combined innings at Turner Field this year.

In three career starts versus the Nationals, Beachy has produced an even 1-1 record and 5.63 ERA, including a 4-1 road loss in his last effort against them on Sept. 24 of last year. He gave up four runs and five hits over six innings in that contest.

Key Trends

The Washington Nationals have been taking care of business against divisional opponents during the 2012 MLB season, posting a 10-3 record in their first 13 games in that situation. Atlanta has not fared as well, entering the series finale with a 4-9 mark in such contests.

The pitching matchup is a virtual wash, with the Nationals going 4-1 in Gio Gonzalez's last five road starts, while the Braves are 5-0 in Brandon Beachy's last five starts as a home favorite of minus-110 to minus-150.

Umpire Kerwin Danley

Umpire Kerwin Danley will be calling the balls and strikes on Sunday night, offering little edge to either side with the home team being 5-5 in his 10 games behind home plate this season.

He has never called a game with Atlanta Braves starter Brandon Beachy on the hill, but Washington Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez has thrown in his strike zone four times, including in a 7-4 road win over the Chicago Cubs on April 7. He didn't earn a decision in that affair, allowing four runs and seven hits over just 3.2 innings.

The Braves own a slight advantage in this situation due to the home team going 11-5 in Danley's last 16 Sunday games behind home plate. 

Prediction

I'm going to pick the Washington Nationals in this affair due to no clear advantage being shown on either side in terms of the starting pitching matchup, with the visitor owning a slight edge in the bullpen department.

The Atlanta Braves are 9-9 against left-handed starters this year, while the Nationals are 21-13 when facing right-handed throwers.

Bring the brooms if you made the trip south to Atlanta from the nation's capital.

Pick: Washington Nationals +120

Follow on Twitter: @JeffGrantSports