NLCS Game 2 lineups: Nats at Cardinals

ST. LOUIS - They got a one-hitter from their No. 4 starter and backup closer to win Game 1 of the National League Championship Series. Now the Nationals send their No. 1 starter to the mound for Game 2, with their closer back in town and available to finish things off if the situation calls for it. Not a bad position to be in.

Max Scherzer gets the ball, his first career postseason start in his hometown. It's hardly his first start in this ballpark, though. He's 2-2 with a 2.56 ERA in five career outings at Busch Stadium. However, those numbers were even better before last month, when an otherwise dominant start fell apart in the seventh inning after Juan Soto lost a fly ball in the sun.

As they've done throughout this postseason run so far, the Nationals will hope for seven innings out of their starter. Scherzer is on full rest and should be good for 110-plus pitches. And if he can give them that, they've got both Sean Doolittle and Daniel Hudson available out of the bullpen. Hudson officially was activated from paternity leave this morning; Wander Suero was removed from the NLCS roster.

The Nats also have Kurt Suzuki back in their lineup, three days after the catcher took a pitch off his wrist and then his face. Suzuki cleared all concussion tests, so he has been cleared to play. And he'll be behind the plate to work with Scherzer. Victor Robles, however, remains out for the fifth straight game with a strained hamstring. So once again it's Michael A. Taylor in center field.

NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES - GAME 2
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Where: Busch Stadium
Gametime: 4:08 p.m. EDT
TV: TBS, TBS.com
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Sunny, 59 degrees, wind 10 mph out to center field

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
2B Howie Kendrick
1B Ryan Zimmerman
C Kurt Suzuki
CF Michael A. Taylor
RHP Max Scherzer

CARDINALS
CF Dexter Fowler
2B Kolten Wong
1B Paul Goldschmidt
LF Marcell Ozuna
C Yadier Molina
3B Matt Carpenter
RF Tommy Edman
SS Paul DeJong
RHP Adam Wainwright