Game 42 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

How do you stop a team that just scored 29 runs last night? By sending your winless No. 5 starter with an 8.26 ERA to the mound, obviously.

Thumbnail image for Voth-Throws-Blue-Sidebar.jpgOn paper, tonight's matchup does not appear to favor the Nationals. Austin Voth is pitching, still seeking his first win in his eighth start of the season. And he's facing a Braves lineup that just set a modern National League record last night with 29 runs in a blowout win over the Marlins, a game in which they actually didn't score in either the first or eighth innings.

But stranger things have happened in baseball history, for sure. Shoot, I once saw Levale Speigner outpitch Johan Santana. So why not?

Besides, the Nationals get to face a left-hander tonight in Robbie Erlin, and that has usually led to impressive offensive results for this team. They enter the day batting an major league-best .309 versus lefties, with an .888 OPS that ranks second only to the White Sox.

The lineup includes Juan Soto, though he's still limited to designated hitter duties. It does not include Luis García, whose heel is improving but not enough to start tonight. And the bench includes just-called-up outfielder Yadiel Hernández, who is set to make his major league debut at 32, taking the roster spot that opened up when Howie Kendrick went on the injured list.

All of this, of course, is contingent on the weather. And the forecast is not great. For now, they're proceeding as if they're playing. If anything changes, we'll be the first to let you know.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Chance of rain, 80 degrees, wind 5 mph in from right field

NATIONALS
CF Victor Robles
RF Adam Eaton
SS Trea Turner
DH Juan Soto
1B Asdrúbal Cabrera
2B Josh Harrison
C Yan Gomes
LF Michael A. Taylor
3B Carter Kieboom

RHP Austin Voth

BRAVES
CF Ronald Acuña Jr.
1B Freddie Freeman
DH Marcell Ozuna
LF Adam Duvall
SS Dansby Swanson
3B Austin Riley
2B Ozzie Albies
RF Nick Markakis
C Tyler Flowers

LHP Robbie Erlin




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