Game 155 lineups: Nats at Mets

NEW YORK - Though their chances of securing home field advantage throughout the postseason are slim - they still trail the Dodgers by 4 1/2 games - the Nationals are on the verge of securing home field advantage at least for the National League Division Series. They enter play today with a seven-game lead over the Cubs, with eight to go. Thus, their magic number to clinch home field advantage for the first round is two, and if things go right, that could be locked up this afternoon.

In order to fulfill their half of the bargain, though, the Nationals will need to beat Jacob deGrom, the only member of the Mets' vaunted rotation to make it through the season in one piece with some level of effectiveness. Manager Dusty Baker said last night he was planning to again give his regulars another chance for rest as they prepare for the postseason, but the lineup does include several starters (including Trea Turner, Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon).

The good news is that Max Scherzer is on the mound as well, for his penultimate tune-up before the playoffs. After a slight step backward in two starts earlier this month, the ace was back in form earlier in the week against the Braves. He'll look to make another Cy Young Award case this afternoon against the Mets.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at NEW YORK METS
Where: Citi Field
Gametime: 1:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, XM 184/869, MLB.com
Weather: Sunny, 87 degrees, wind 6 mph in from center field

NATIONALS (93-61)
SS Trea Turner
LF Alejandro De Aza
2B Daniel Murphy
3B Anthony Rendon
1B Howie Kendrick
RF Victor Robles
CF Michael A. Taylor
C Jose Lobaton
RHP Max Scherzer

METS (66-88)
RF Norichika Aoki
2B José Reyes
LF Brandon Nimmo
C Travis d'Arnaud
1B Dominic Smith
3B Phillip Evans
SS Amed Rosario
CF Juan Lagares
RHP Jacob deGrom