Game 131 lineups: Nats at Braves

ATLANTA – Good morning from Truist Park, where the Nationals and Braves wrap up their weekend series with an extra-early, 12:05 p.m. first pitch today. It’s another “MLB Sunday Leadoff on Roku” game, so you’ll only be able to watch this game via streaming devices. Here’s how you can watch for free.

The Nats have lost two incredibly winnable games the last two nights – 3-2 in 10 innings, 4-2 in regulation – and they should be frustrated by the fact they didn’t win either of those games. They have a chance to rectify that today and finally clinch the season series over Atlanta, something, remarkably, they haven’t done since 2017.

It’s DJ Herz on the mound, and the rookie has been quite good since the All-Star break: a 3.07 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings. He faced the Braves in his second career start back in early June and did OK, allowing two runs over 4 1/3 innings, though he needed 87 pitches to do it. The lefty has come a long way since then and will look to continue the upward trend this afternoon.

The Nationals will be facing a familiar face in Reynaldo López, the one-time prospect-turned-All-Star who continues to enjoy a breakthrough season here in Atlanta with a 2.05 ERA and 1.195 WHIP in 20 starts. The right-hander gave up two runs (via solo homers by CJ Abrams and Lane Thomas) over six innings in a June 6 no-decision. Abrams is leading off today, but obviously Thomas is no longer here. Interesting to see Drew Millas behind the plate for this one, with Keibert Ruiz serving as designated hitter and Riley Adams sitting.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Truist Park
Gametime: 12:05 p.m. EDT
TV: Roku
Radio: 106.7 FM, 88.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Sunny, 80 degrees, wind 7 mph left field to right field

NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
LF James Wood
2B Luis García Jr.
1B Andrés Chaparro
3B José Tena
DH Keibert Ruiz
RF Joey Gallo
C Drew Millas
CF Jacob Young

LHP DJ Herz

BRAVES
CF Michael Harris II
RF Jorge Soler
DH Marcell Ozuna
1B Matt Olson
LF Ramon Laureano
2B Whit Merrifield
3B Gio Urshela
C Sean Murphy
SS Orlando Arcia

RHP Reynaldo López