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(Sports Network) - The Washington Nationals have had little luck against most of their fellow National League East residents this year. The Atlanta Braves, however, are a different story.

Washington shoots for its sixth win in its last seven games versus Atlanta in tonight's opener of a three-game set at Nationals Park.

The Nationals are a solid 7-4 versus the Braves this year, but are just a combined 10-26 versus the rest of the division. They have won two straight and five of their last six versus Atlanta, and are also 4-2 at home against the Braves this year.

Washington's doormat status in the NL East is easily explained. The club is hitting just .245 on the season -- the second worst average in the NL -- while its 504 runs scored are the fewest in all of baseball.

However, the Nationals' offense awoke big time in the finale of a three-game set with the Dodgers on Thursday, winning the contest 11-2 to begin a nine- game homestand with the sweep.

Cristian Guzman posted the eighth cycle in franchise history and second since the Montreal Expos moved to Washington. Elijah Dukes added two homers and four RBI in the Nats' first three-game winning streak since they won four straight to begin August.

Odalis Perez will try to win for the first time in three starts tonight for Washington. The lefty lost his second straight outing Saturday versus the Cubs, allowing five runs (4 earned) on 10 hits and four walks over just 4 1/3 innings, his shortest outing since a four-frame start on July 26.

Perez is 5-10 with a 4.21 earned run average this year, but is pitching to a 2.54 ERA in 12 home starts. He has been hurt by a lack of offense, though, as he is just 1-5 at Nationals Park this year.

The 31-year-old is 2-3 with a 5.25 ERA in nine games (8 starts) lifetime versus the Braves, going 1-0 in two starts against them this year.

Atlanta counters with Jorge Campillo, who makes his first career start versus the Nats. The righty has faced them three times in a relief role this year, allowing five runs -- just one of which was earned -- in 3 2/3 frames.

Campillo has lost his last two decisions and is coming off a no-decision in St. Louis on Saturday. He gave up three runs on seven hits over five innings of his team's eventual 8-4 victory.

In 33 games (19 starts) this year, the righty is 7-6 with a 3.37 ERA. However, Campillo has also allowed 18 runs over his last 23 innings spanning four starts.

Atlanta won for just the third time in 11 games when it won the rubber match of a three-game set with Florida on Thursday. Brian McCann smacked a three-run homer to back solid Braves pitching in a 4-2 victory.

Charlie Morton pitched six solid innings before Julian Tavarez, Jeff Bennett and Mike Gonzalez each threw a scoreless frames. Gonzalez picked up his seventh save of the season by striking out the side in the ninth.

Braves third baseman Chipper Jones went 2-for-3 to up his major-league leading average to .359. He is hitting .333 (8-for-24) with two RBI and three runs scored over a six-game hitting streak.

Jones is hitting .364 (8-for-22) with two homers and four RBI in his career against Perez, and is also a career .302 batter in 209 games versus the Washington/Montreal franchise.