Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker sat behind the desk of the visiting managers office at Citi Field in New York late Sunday afternoon and viewed the printout of the baseball standings. Eric Hosmer Jersey .Im just glad that were in a position not to have an x by our name, Baker said, referring to the designation used for teams that have already been eliminated from their division races. Theres a couple xs already. We want to add some xs.The National League East-leading Nationals can do just that Monday afternoon, when they begin a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park.Washington comes home after losing the final two games of a three-game series against the New York Mets, including a 5-1 defeat Sunday night. Atlanta has won six straight, including a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies that concluded Sunday afternoon with a 2-0 victory at Citizens Bank Park.One win by the Nationals (79-57) this week will officially eliminate the Braves (54-83) from the National League East race. Of course, Atlanta has been out of contention since April, when it began the season on an eight-game losing streak and finished the opening month a miserable 5-18.Knocking out the Braves would allow the Nationals -- who are 8 1/2 games ahead of the second-place Mets -- to move one step closer to where they want to be. While Washington is closing in on its third division title in five years, the Nationals/Montreal Expos franchise hasnt won a playoff series since 1981, which is the longest drought among the four major North American pro sports leagues.Everybody keeps talking postseason -- lets win this (regular) season first, Baker said Saturday afternoon. We havent won this season yet. Somebody (said), If you go .500 the rest of the way ... Thats not going to satisfy me or satisfy us. You want to finish strong, and the postseason is something thats down the way. But right now, weve got to keep grinding.The Braves postseason hopes are long gone, but they will hope to continue laying the foundation that has been constructed over the past several weeks. Atlanta, which has its second six-game winning streak of the season, is 23-25 since the All-Star break and 17-15 since Aug. 1.The past month, the past couple of months, weve been playing really good baseball, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman said Sunday. We got off to a really rough start. You knew it was going to turn around at some point.A 100-loss season once appeared to be unavoidable for the Braves, but they need to go just 9-16 down the stretch to avoid the franchises first 100-loss campaign since 1988.Were not the same team, quite honestly, Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said Sunday. I feel good with everybody that goes up there.Nationals ace right-hander Max Scherzer (15-7, 2.89 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Braves rookie right-hander Ryan Weber (1-0, 5.24 ERA) on Monday.Scherzer, who had his start pushed back a day in order to get some extra rest, carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his previous start last Tuesday, when he earned the win after allowing two runs over eight innings as Washington beat the Phillies, 3-2.In three starts against Atlanta this year, he is 2-0 with a 4.66 ERA. Scherzer has a 3-3 record and a 4.01 ERA in 10 career games (eight starts) vs. the Braves.Weber will be making his first start of the season following 12 relief appearances. He has a 0-1 record and a 2.31 ERA in three career games (one start) against Washington. Jorge Soler Jersey . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. He has 19 goals and 24 assists for 43 points in 45 games with the Colts this season. Paulo Orlando Jersey .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. http:///...argas-royals-jersey/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons have lost another defender with safety Kemal Ishmael getting placed on injured reserve.Coach Dan Quinn said Friday that Ishamel has played much of the season with an aching shoulder and decided this week to undergo season-ending surgery.The Falcons (8-5) host San Francisco (1-12) on Sunday and will be without All-Pro receiver Julio Jones for the second game because of a sprained toe. Wideout Mohamed Sanu returned to practice Friday after missing last weeks win over the Los Angeles Rams because of a groin injury.Quinn indicated Sanu should be ready to start.Receiver J.D. McKissic, signed as an undrafted free agent from Arkansas State in May, will be promoted from the practice squad to take Ishmaels place on the 53-man roster.Ishmael has started 19 of 49 career games. He left the Rams game with a knee injury and did not return.Quinn said he will be particularly missed on special teams. Mike Moustakas Jersey. e took it as far as you can, Quinn said. When he got to where he couldnt keep going -- and he still wanted to, which tells you the kind of competitor he is -- it was best to have that fixed.Atlanta already lost its best defensive player, cornerback Desmond Trufant, to season-ending shoulder surgery two weeks ago, and veteran linebacker Sean Weatherspoon was finished after rupturing his Achilles in Week 4.Defensive tackle Adrian Clayborn will miss his third straight game with a knee injury. Cornerback Jalen Colins is out with an aching knee. Safety Robenson Therezie wont play because of a sore ankle, and receiver Nick Williams is sidelined with a concussion.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '