Game 160 lineups: Nats vs. Indians

When the 2019 schedule was announced way back when, this final series featuring an interleague matchup stuck out like a sore thumb. Nobody wants to finish up the season with interleague games, but as long as the two leagues have 15 teams apiece, Major League Baseball has no choice but to do this. So the Nationals and Indians drew the short straw and will face each other this weekend.

It's a really important weekend for both teams, of course. The Nationals are trying to secure home field advantage for Tuesday's National League wild card game. (Remember: They must finish with a better record than either the Brewers or Cardinals after 162 games in order to host. Any potential tiebreaker Game 163 between Milwaukee and St. Louis has no bearing on this.)

The Indians, meanwhile, are trying to sneak into the American League wild card game, but they're now in a desperate situation, trailing the Rays by two games with three to play. It's possible they're eliminated tonight, which would very much change the reflection of the rest of this series.

Three key things to note in the Nationals lineup tonight: Kurt Suzuki is catching for the first time since Sept. 7, so we'll see how his right elbow holds up; Howie Kendrick is starting at second base for the first time since Sept. 6, an interesting test for the veteran; and Gerardo Parra is starting in center field in place of Victor Robles, who gets a well-deserved day off.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. CLEVELAND INDIANS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 78 degrees, wind 8 mph right field to left field

NATIONALS (90-69)
SS Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
2B Howie Kendrick
1B Matt Adams
C Kurt Suzuki
CF Gerardo Parra
RHP Austin Voth

INDIANS (93-66)
SS Francisco Lindor
CF Oscar Mercado
1B Carlos Santana
RF Yasiel Puig
2B Mike Freeman
C Roberto Pérez
LF Greg Allen
3B Ryan Flaherty
RHP Zach Plesac