(Best E Casino) - The NL East-leading Florida Marlins will try to extend their current winning streak to a season-high five games tonight, when they begin a seven-game road trip with the first of three straight meetings with Washington at Nationals Park.

Florida has won four in a row and completed a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers at Dolphin Stadium with a 7-2 victory on Thursday. Matt Treanor finished 2-for-3 with a three-run homer and Jorge Cantu added a two- run shot to lead the way.

Luis Gonzalez went 3-for-3 and Hanley Ramirez had two hits and an RBI for the Marlins, who outscored the Brewers 16-4 in the series and sit one game ahead of Philadelphia in the division standings.

Marlins starter Mark Hendrickson gave up one run on seven hits, but lasted just 4 1/3 innings. Logan Kensing then pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the victory.

Florida will also visit Cincinnati for four games at Great American Ball Park on the current trek.

Ricky Nolasco gets the nod for the Marlins tonight and is 1-3 with a 6.10 ERA in seven games (5 starts) this season. Nolasco is 0-3 in his previous four outings, and was pounded for six runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings of work during a 7-2 loss versus San Diego on Saturday.

Nolasco, a right-hander, has enjoyed success against the Nationals in his career, having gone 3-1 with a 4.37 ERA in six games (four starts).

Washington put the brakes on a two-game slide with an 8-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Thursday in the finale of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park. Rob Mackowiak went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and starter John Lannan tossed six strong innings, giving up just one run on seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts.

Ryan Zimmerman had three hits and Cristian Guzman scored three times as the Nats won for the seventh time in 10 tries.

Tim Redding will take the mound for Washington on Friday and is 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA in seven starts. The righty last toed the rubber on Sunday versus Pittsburgh and recorded the win with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball.

Redding is 1-1 in two starts against Florida in 2008, and owns a 4-1 mark with a 2.68 earned run average through seven career appearances versus the Marlins.

Florida is 5-1 so far against the Nationals this season, with a 3-0 record at Nationals Park.