Game 53 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

We have reached the final week of a most unusual regular season. Around these parts, that usually means a pennant race, a potential clincher for the Nationals and maybe a few days to rest guys up for the postseason. Not in 2020. Though the Nats are technically still alive, practically speaking they're done. Their elimination number, if you're wondering, is currently three, so the earliest they could be officially knocked out is Tuesday. (Update: It turns out they actually could be eliminated tonight if they lose and the Reds win, because there are no tiebreaker games this year and Cincinnati would get in based on a better division record.)

There are still eight more games to play, though, four vs. the Phillies and then four against the Mets. And for the Phillies, these are very important games. They enter the day 27-26 and holding the seventh seed in the National League, but that lead is tenuous, with the Reds, Brewers and Giants all 1/2-game behind. If Philadelphia gets to the postseason for the first time since 2011, it will have done it in large part by beating the Nationals, who have gone 0-6 against their rivals this year.

Aníbal Sánchez gets the start tonight, trying to keep Bryce Harper and the Phillies lineup in the park. Zack Wheeler starts for Philadelphia, facing a Nats lineup that has Andrew Stevenson hitting leadoff for the first time after a strong weekend in Miami.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 64 degrees, wind 7 mph in from center field

NATIONALS
RF Andrew Stevenson
SS Trea Turner
LF Juan Soto
1B Asdrúbal Cabrera
DH Brock Holt
C Kurt Suzuki
2B Luis García
3B Carter Kieboom
CF Victor Robles

RHP Aníbal Sánchez

PHILLIES
LF Adam Haseley
DH Bryce Harper
1B Alec Bohm
SS Didi Gregorius
3B Jean Segura
RF Jay Bruce
C Andrew Knapp
2B Scott Kingery
CF Roman Quinn

RHP Zack Wheeler