Game 109 lineups: Nats at Phillies

PHILADELPHIA – The Nationals need a win tonight to avoid losing their third straight series and fourth since the All-Star break.

With all the negatives surrounding Patrick Corbin over the past couple of seasons, the one thing you can say about him is that he takes the ball every fifth day. The results of those outings haven’t always been great, but he’s available and that’s what Davey Martinez needs from his veteran starter right now.

Over his first 22 starts, Corbin is 4-15 with a 6.57 ERA, the most losses and highest qualified earned run average in the majors. In his lone start against the Phillies this year, the left-hander was tagged for nine runs (only two earned) on eight hits, one walk and two homers in 3 ⅓ innings on June 16. Corbin is 6-6 with a 3.88 ERA in 16 starts against Philadelphia in his career.

In a matchup of lefty starting pitchers, Ranger Suárez takes the mound for the Phillies with a 7-5 record and 3.60 ERA. He earned the win in the first game of the June 17 doubleheader to kick off Ryan Zimmerman Weekend at Nats Park by giving up three runs and striking out five in 5 ⅔ innings. Suárez is 3-0 with a 2.45 ERA in nine games (two starts) against the Nats over his five-year career.

Nelson Cruz is back in the lineup as the designated hitter after missing the last three games with a stiff neck. Luis García gets the day off against a left-hander.

Once again, there’s a chance of rain here later this evening, so hopefully starting an hour earlier allows this game to be played without any delays. The Phillies have a pregame ceremony honoring some of their Wall of Fame members, so don’t be surprised if this game doesn’t start right at 6:05 p.m.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Gametime: 6:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 88 degrees, wind 11 mph out to right-center field 

NATIONALS
CF Victor Robles
2B César Hernández
1B Luke Voit
DH Nelson Cruz
LF Joey Meneses
RF Lane Thomas
3B Maikel Franco
C Tres Barrera
SS Ildemaro Vargas 

LHP Patrick Corbin 

PHILLIES
LF Kyle Schwarber
1B Rhys Hoskins
DH Alec Bohm
C J.T. Realmuto
RF Nick Castellanos
CF Matt Vierling
2B Jean Segura
3B Edmundo Sosa
SS Bryson Stott 

LHP Ranger Suárez