Game 52 lineups: Nats at Braves

We've seen the Nationals put together isolated offensive explosions this season. Seven times they've scored seven or more runs. How have they done in their next game? They've averaged three runs. So there's been an issue with sustaining offensive success.

Tonight the Nats will try to finally do that and put together back-to-back big performances at the plate in the wake of their 11-6 victory Tuesday night. As was the case then, they're facing a left-hander, this time Drew Smyly. He's got a 5.95 ERA in eight starts overall, but he's been effective in two starts against the Nationals, allowing a total of two earned runs in 12 innings.

Manager Davey Martinez isn't going with the same lineup from Tuesday, a bit of a surprise. Ryan Zimmerman, who homered 24 hours ago, isn't starting against a lefty. It's Josh Bell at first base, batting cleanup. And Yan Gomes gets bumped up to the No. 5 spot, with Starlin Castro dropped to the No. 7 spot.

The Nationals need something special from Jon Lester, who is starting on only three days' rest because of last weekend's doubleheader against the Brewers, a lack of off-days and the fact Erick Fedde isn't quite ready to return from the COVID-19 injured list. Lester has done this three previous times in his career, and performed fairly well under the circumstances, but he's done it only once in the last decade and never this early in a season. Martinez would love to get five quality innings from the 37-year-old tonight, but even that might be a lot to ask against a tough Braves lineup.

The bullpen, which needed to churn out 7 2/3 innings Tuesday after Stephen Strasburg was pulled early due to injury, will have one extra fresh arm tonight. Kyle McGowin, who was already in Atlanta on the traveling taxi squad, was recalled from Triple-A Rochester to take the roster spot that opened up when the club decided to place Strasburg on the 10-day injured list with a neck strain.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Truist Park
Gametime: 7:20 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 78 degrees, wind 5 mph in from center field

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
2B Josh Harrison
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
C Yan Gomes
LF Kyle Schwarber
3B Starlin Castro
LHP Jon Lester
CF Victor Robles

BRAVES
RF Ronald Acuña Jr.
1B Freddie Freeman
2B Ozzie Albies
3B Austin Riley
SS Dansby Swanson
LF Ehire Adrianza
CF Guillermo Heredia
C Kevan Smith
LHP Drew Smyly