Game 8 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

Rest easy, everybody: Stephen Strasburg is pitching today. After getting scratched from his scheduled start last night due to an illness that has plagued him for several days, Strasburg is good to go for this afternoon's series finale against the Braves. That saves Dusty Baker from needing to turn to emergency starter Yusmeiro Petit and keeping his bullpen fresh, not only for this game but for the next few days as well.

The Nationals will be looking to win, incredibly, their 14th consecutive home game against the Braves and improve to 6-0 overall against them so far this season. My how the times have changed. Atlanta, now 0-8 for 2016, does have ace Julio Teheran on the mound this afternoon. The right-hander pitched well on opening day, allowing only solo homers to Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy over six innings.

Harper is playing today, but outfielders Jayson Werth and Michael A. Taylor not in the starting lineup. Chris Heisey is leading off and playing left field in his first Nationals start, while Matt den Dekker is in center field and hitting seventh.

It should be a beautiful late afternoon at the park for the final game of the season's first homestand. Enjoy ...

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, XM 187, MLB.com
Weather: Sunny, 62 degrees, wind 6 mph in from right field

NATIONALS
LF Chris Heisey
3B Anthony Rendon
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
2B Daniel Murphy
C Wilson Ramos
CF Matt den Dekker
SS Danny Espinosa
RHP Stephen Strasburg

BRAVES
CF Mallex Smith
RF Nick Markakis
3B Adonis Garcia
1B Kelly Johnson
C A.J. Pierzynski
2B Gordon Beckham
SS Erick Aybar
LF Jace Peterson
RHP Julio Teheran