Game 71 lineups: Nats vs. Diamondbacks

Too often this season, the Nationals have found themselves needing to win a series finale simply to avoid getting swept or to salvage a split. If it feels like this team has been playing catch-up for 2 1/2 months now, it's because that's exactly what it has been doing. So today's scenario is a familiar one: The Nats need to beat the Diamondbacks just to salvage a four-game series split, all this before opening up a huge week with the Phillies and Braves coming to town.

It'll be Aníbal Sánchez on the mound, trying to turn in his fourth consecutive strong start since returning from a hamstring injury. The veteran does have to contend with a tough Arizona lineup that beat up on Stephen Strasburg yesterday.

The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, are going with a bullpen game today. It's Archie Bradley, who last started a game in 2016, first on the mound potentially going as many as four innings before they turn to the rest of the relief corps. We'll see if the Nats can have more success against that group than they did yesterday, when they scored three early runs and then nothing else.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Chance of rain late, 83 degrees, wind 14 mph out to center field

NATIONALS (32-38)
SS Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
2B Howie Kendrick
1B Matt Adams
C Kurt Suzuki
CF Victor Robles
RHP Aníbal Sánchez

DIAMONDBACKS (38-34)
RF Jarrod Dyson
CF Ketel Marte
3B Eduardo Escobar
1B Christian Walker
2B Ildemaro Vargas
LF Tim Locastro
SS Nick Ahmed
C Caleb Joseph
RHP Archie Bradley