Game 21 lineups: Nats at Braves

The Nationals did a lot of things right Monday night. And because of it, they were in position to win their series opener against the Braves at Truist Park. Of course, they didn't win because of Daniel Hudson's disastrous bottom of the ninth, so that only adds to the pressure to emerge victorious in tonight's middle game of the series.

The Nats will hope to continue hitting the longball the way they did Monday when they smacked four homers. But they also need to take advantage of their other opportunities with men on base. They actually wound up 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position, and even though that's the not the reason they lost the game, it is the reason they didn't hold a much more commanding lead entering the ninth.

With Josh Tomlin the first of a parade of relievers expected to pitch tonight for the Braves, the Nationals will get a look at a lot of different arms. That can be a good thing, or it can be a bad thing if they struggle to adjust to each new pitcher coming out of the pen. Of note, Howie Kendrick once again is not in the lineup, absent for the fourth straight day due to a tight hamstring.

Austin Voth gets the start for the Nats, and as always they'll be asking the right-hander to give them some much-needed length. He's reached the sixth inning in only four of his 13 big league starts, and he has yet to reach the seventh inning or throw 100 pitches. Tonight would be an excellent time to establish some new career highs.

Update: The Braves scratched Nick Markakis from their lineup after he was potentially exposed to someone with COVID-19. The veteran outfielder tested negative for the virus, but the club decided to place him on the injured list as a precaution and promote top outfield prospect Christian Pache to make his big league debut.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Truist Park
Gametime: 7:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 87 degrees, wind 4 mph in from right field

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
LF Juan Soto
3B Asdrúbal Cabrera
DH Kurt Suzuki
2B Luis García
C Yan Gomes
1B Eric Thames
CF Victor Robles

RHP Austin Voth

BRAVES
SS Dansby Swanson
1B Freddie Freeman
C Travis D'Arnaud
RF Marcell Ozuna
DH Matt Adams
LF Adam Duvall
2B Johan Camargo
3B Austin Riley
CF Ender Inciarte

RHP Josh Tomlin