(Best E Casino) - Right-hander Jair Jurrjens will try to pick up where he left off at the end of the first half tonight, when his Atlanta Braves host the Washington Nationals in the second of three weekend games at Turner Field.

Jurrjens, who reached the majors and made seven starts last season with Detroit, was 9-4 with a 3.00 earned run average in 18 starts before the All- Star break, including a 5-1 run in his last 10 outings.

He allowed five hits and a run over six innings on July 8 in Los Angeles, defeating the Dodgers, 9-3, in his last first-half start.

The 22-year-old, who is 5-1 at home this season, faced Washington for the only time on April 30 in Washington, and allowed two hits and a run in seven innings of the Braves' 2-1 loss.

Nationals lefty John Lannan finally ended a losing skid in his last outing before the break.

The 23-year-old Siena College product had gone 0-5 in eight starts between May 24 and July 3, before finally breaking through with a 5-0 defeat of the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 9.

In that game, Lannan allowed just two hits in six scoreless innings.

He's made two starts against Atlanta this season, combining to allow 14 hits and six runs in 11 innings while picking up a 10-2 loss on April 12 in Washington and a 6-0 win 10 days later in Atlanta.

On Friday, Brian McCann hit a bases-loaded double, while Brent Lillibridge went 2-for-4 with two runs batted in, as Atlanta held off Washington, 7-6.

Tim Hudson (10-7) gave up five runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 frames and picked up the win. He also struck out two and walked one for the Braves, who have won three in a row.

Mark Kotsay and Kelly Johnson each drove in one run, while Mike Gonzalez got into, then out of a jam in the ninth to pick up his fourth save.

Tim Redding (7-4) took the loss after allowing six runs on six hits in just four innings for the Nationals, who have lost three straight games.

Paul Lo Duca finished with two RBI, while Ryan Langerhans went 2-for-4 with a triple and RBI.

These divisional foes have met nine times previously this season, with the Nationals winning five of those games. The clubs split a two-game series at Turner Field back in April.

Washington did lose in seven of nine visits to Atlanta last season, however.