Game 85 lineups: Nats vs. Red Sox

The Nationals have lost 14 of their last 18 games. They're seven games out of first place, 4 1/2 games out of second place. They're a .500 club right now that can't seem to do anything right. But you know what? It's Independence Day in the District of Columbia, and there's a ballgame being played today in town. It could be worse, a lot worse.

It would be better, of course, if the Nationals could pull off a win today against the Red Sox and avoid a series sweep (not to mention a sub-.500 record). They'll need to play a whole lot better to do it. They'll need a solid start out of Erick Fedde, who hasn't exactly been thrown any favors lately (three of his last five starts have come against the Yankees and Red Sox).

And they'll need some better at-bats in key moments from their lineup, which today doesn't include Juan Soto against lefty Eduardo Rodriguez. So it's Adam Eaton in left field, Michael A. Taylor in center and Bryce Harper in right. On the bench, though, is Matt Adams, who has been activated off the disabled list. Tim Collins was designated for assignment to make room for Adams.

BOSTON RED SOX at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 11:05 a.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB Network (outside D.C. market), MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 87 degrees, wind 5 mph in from right field

NATIONALS
LF Adam Eaton
SS Trea Turner
3B Anthony Rendon
RF Bryce Harper
1B Mark Reynolds
CF Michael A. Taylor
2B Wilmer Difo
C Pedro Severino
RHP Erick Fedde

RED SOX
RF Mookie Betts
SS Brock Holt
LF J.D. Martinez
1B Steve Pearce
3B Rafael Devers
2B Eduardo Nuñez
CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
C Christian Vázquez
LHP Eduardo Rodriguez