Game 44 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

The last time the Nationals swept a series, they proceeded to lose seven of their next eight games and dig themselves into a hole they're still trying to climb all the way out of. So this weekend's sweep of the Orioles, while encouraging, certainly doesn't guarantee this team has turned a corner. We won't know about that until we see how the Nats perform this week against the Reds and Brewers.

Tonight's series opener versus Cincinnati will see Max Scherzer on the mound, so that's always reason to be optimistic. Scherzer is coming off a bit of a grind-it-out start at Wrigley Field, in which he put nine runners on base in five innings and was pulled with his pitch count up to 100. (He still earned the win.) He faces a Reds lineup that has been among the most productive in the National League, even with Joey Votto on the injured list. Jesse Winker (1.096 OPS) and Nick Castellanos (1.085 OPS) have more than made up for the loss of Votto.

On the flip side, a Nats lineup that busted out over the weekend against the Orioles now faces a Cincinnati pitching staff that has surrendered the most runs in the NL. Right-hander Tyler Mahle, who starts tonight's opener, was roughed up by the Giants for seven runs in two innings his last time out.

Davey Martinez's lineup looks familiar. It's the batting order that has become the standard vs. righties for now, with Victor Robles on the IL. Andrew Stevenson is again in center field, and the Nats will have a full bench finally with the promotion of infielder Luis García from Triple-A Rochester before tonight's game.

CINCINNATI REDS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 78 degrees, wind 10 mph out to left field

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
LF Kyle Schwarber
3B Starlin Castro
2B Josh Harrison
C Yan Gomes
CF Andrew Stevenson
RHP Max Scherzer

REDS
3B Eugenio Suárez
LF Jesse Winker
RF Nick Castellanos
CF Tyler Naquin
1B Tyler Stephenson
C Tucker Barnhart
SS Kyle Farmer
2B Jonathan India
RHP Tyler Mahle