NEW YORK -- While the Nationals were in Atlanta last week, there wasn't any reason for them to catch up with any of their friends from the Braves. There's a chance these two teams have seen more of each other than they have of their families over the course of the season's first month.

In fact, when thinking about returning to the nation's capital, Braves manager Bobby Cox jokingly said, "We know Washington better than the President does."

While President George W. Bush has likely spent more time in Washington over the course of the past month, the Braves certainly know Nationals Park better than any other team. They helped the Nationals open the stadium with a March 30 Opening Night game attended by Bush and returned for a three-game series there two weeks ago.

Now the Braves are making their third trip to Washington. They'll be sending Tom Glavine back to the mound when they open a two-game set against the Nationals on Tuesday night. The 42-year-old left-hander hopes this experience will prove to be more memorable than the first one he had at this new park two weeks ago.

Before recording an out against the Nationals on April 13, Glavine was forced to exit with a strained right hamstring that led him to experience his first career stint on the disabled list. Now after experiencing positive side sessions on both Wednesday and again on Sunday, the Braves southpaw is looking to resume the success he enjoyed during his first two starts.

Silencing some of the critics who suggested last year's late-season struggles were a sign that he should retire, Glavine allowed just one earned run in the 11 1/3 innings he completed during his first two starts.

Because he was able to maintain flexibility with his hamstring, Glavine was able to throw a couple times while he was sidelined. The Braves are hoping that he'll be able to return to form immediately and end some of the pitching pains they've experienced at the beginning of this road trip.

After taking Friday night's series opener against the Mets, the Braves saw Tim Hudson (three) and John Smoltz (four) combine for just seven innings in the losses they incurred on Saturday and Sunday.

Despite lasting just three innings in two of his past three starts, Hudson insists that he is healthy. As for Smoltz, he is thinking about returning to Atlanta this week to have his shoulder evaluated. He has been battling tightness between his shoulder and neck for more than a month.

Thus it's even more important for Glavine to prove that he's still young and healthy enough to bring some health back to the Braves' currently ailing rotation.

Pitching matchup
ATL: LHP Tom Glavine (0-1, 2.38 ERA)
In the 18 starts he's made against the Expos/Nationals dating back to the start of the 2004 season, Glavine is 10-6 with a 2.64 ERA.

WSH: RHP Tim Redding (3-2, 3.67 ERA)
In his last start on Wednesday, Redding ended up pitching five-plus innings, giving up three runs on four hits against the Mets. He allowed three earned runs in five innings against the Braves on April 13.

Tidbits
Chipper Jones (back spasms) and Yunel Escobar (bruised right finger) are both hoping to return to the lineup on Tuesday. They were absent during the final two games of this past weekend's series against the Mets. ... Braves pitchers went hitless in their first 39 at-bats this season and then they recorded their first two hits of the season in consecutive at-bats -- Tim Hudson on Friday and Jair Jurrjens on Saturday. ... The Braves are 0-8 in one-run games this year and have dropped 13 consecutive one-run decisions dating back to last season.

Tickets
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On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• SPSO

On radio
• WGST 640, 94.9 FM, Viva 105.7 (Español)

Up next
• Wednesday: Braves (Jair Jurrjens, 3-2, 3.45) at Nationals (Shawn Hill, 0-0, 5.40), 4:35 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Braves (Tim Hudson, 3-2, 3.74) vs. Reds (TBD), 7:30 p.m. ET