Game 142 lineups: Nats vs. Cubs

It's been 425 days since Joe Ross last pitched in a major league game. Something didn't look right with the right-hander on July 9, 2017 when he lasted only 3 1/3 innings against the Braves and saw his velocity drop. Turns out he had a torn ligament in his elbow that required Tommy John surgery, and we all know how long it takes to return from that.

Tonight, Ross will take the mound at Nationals Park again, just shy of 14 months later. He'll be facing a tough Cubs lineup, not to mention an ominous forecast. But the fact he's doing this under any circumstances is an achievement for the 25-year-old, whose goal now is to prove to the Nats he deserves to be counted upon for a starting job in the 2019 rotation.

The Nationals will be going up against Jon Lester, who got rocked by this lineup last month at Wrigley Field to the tune of nine runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings. Ryan Zimmerman hit two homers and hit another ball to the warning track in that game, and he's back in tonight's lineup after sitting out yesterday following a hard slide into the plate. Adrian Sanchez starts at second base instead of Wilmer Difo, but that's the only change from the usual lineup from Davey Martinez.

The Nationals activated closer Sean Doolittle off the 10-day disabled list this afternoon.

CHICAGO CUBS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Chance of storms, 80 degrees, wind 6 mph in from right field

NATIONALS
RF Adam Eaton
SS Trea Turner
CF Bryce Harper
3B Anthony Rendon
1B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Juan Soto
2B Adrian Sanchez
C Spencer Kieboom
RHP Joe Ross

CUBS
2B Daniel Murphy
SS Javy Báez
1B Anthony Rizzo
RF Ben Zobrist
RF Kris Bryant
LF Kyle Schwarber
3B David Bote
C Willson Contreras
LHP Jon Lester
CF Ian Happ