Game 130 lineups: Nats at Cubs

Game 130 lineups: Nats at Cubs
CHICAGO - The Cubs have been lights-out at home this season. They entered the weekend a staggering 14-1-4 in home series, the lone loss coming in late May when they dropped two of three to the Reds. And then the Nationals came to town and blew that narrative out of the water. With back-to-back lopsided wins the last two days, the Nats already have won this series. Now they have a chance to pull off an impressive three-game sweep with another win this afternoon. The Nationals have Stephen...
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Orioles and Rays lineups

Orioles and Rays lineups
Trey Mancini is getting a rest tonight as the Orioles continue their series against the Rays. Chris Davis is playing first base and DJ Stewart is in right field. Jace Peterson is in left field. Jonathan Villar is batting second and playing shortstop. Rio Ruiz is playing third base. Left-hander John Means has made three appearances (two starts) against the Rays and allowed eight earned runs (nine total) and 14 hits with one walk and 13 strikeouts in 15 innings. Mike Brosseau homered...
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Game 129 lineups: Nats at Cubs

Game 129 lineups: Nats at Cubs
CHICAGO - It's another beautiful day at Wrigley Field, where the Nationals look not only to beat the Cubs again but continue a pretty remarkable run over a longer stretch of time. They've now played .667 ball (52-26) since May 24. Thanks to the Dodgers' loss last night, that's now the best record in baseball during that prolonged stretch. And they've won 13 of their last 17, with all four losses coming after they blew a lead in the eighth or ninth inning. So they've led in the eighth...
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Game 128 lineups: Nats at Cubs

Game 128 lineups: Nats at Cubs
CHICAGO - The Nationals won't face a tougher turnaround this season than last night's game in Pittsburgh to this afternoon's game at Wrigley Field. We'll see how they look when they take the field in a few hours, but for what it's worth the entire lineup (sans pitcher) is the same as it was last night. Including Kurt Suzuki, who caught Max Scherzer last night and will catch Aníbal Sánchez today. This is an interesting stretch of games, because the Nationals will be facing four...
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Game 127 lineups: Nats at Pirates

Game 127 lineups: Nats at Pirates
PITTSBURGH - OK, here's the deal: The Nationals are scheduled to start their series finale against the Pirates at 7:05 p.m. They are then scheduled to fly to Chicago, where they are scheduled to start their series opener against the Cubs at 2:20 p.m. EDT Friday. That's a tough turnaround, a really tough turnaround. And it's even tougher when there's rain in the forecast all evening. Which is exactly what's in the forecast here this evening. (It already poured for about 45 minutes a little...
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Orioles and Rays lineups (Martin scratched)

Orioles and Rays lineups (Martin scratched)
Chris Davis is out of the Orioles' lineup for the fourth night in a row. Trey Mancini remains at first base as the Orioles open a four-game series against the Rays at Camden Yards. DJ Stewart stays in right field, with Stevie Wilkerson in center and Anthony Santander in left. Richie Martin is the shortstop after collecting two hits last night. Hanser Alberto, leading off and playing third base, has posted a .341 (14-for-41) average with five doubles, one triple, three home runs, 11 RBIs and...
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Game 126 lineups: Nats at Pirates

Game 126 lineups: Nats at Pirates
PITTSBURGH - The Nationals scored 13 runs in Monday night's series opener. Then they scored one run last night. So what does tonight hold in store? The Nationals will try to get their offensive mojo back against Pirates right-hander Joe Musgrove. Musgrove hasn't faced the Nats this year. He's had an up and down season, but in his most recent start he held the Cubs to two runs and four hits while striking out nine over 7 1/3 innings. Patrick Corbin starts for the Nationals. The lefty did face...
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Game 125 lineups: Nats at Pirates

Game 125 lineups: Nats at Pirates
PITTSBURGH - You know all about what the Nationals have accomplished at the plate in recent days. What might they be able to accomplish tonight if they keep the barrage going? Well, they've already tied the major league record by scoring 13 or more runs in three straight games. If they can somehow do it again tonight, they'll become the first team in Major League Baseball history to do it in four straight games. They've scored 43 runs in three games; if they can score seven tonight, they'll...
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Game 124 lineups: Nats at Pirates (Dozier on paternity leave)

Game 124 lineups: Nats at Pirates (Dozier on paternity leave)
PITTSBURGH - It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood here alongside the Allegheny River, where the Nationals tonight open a four-game series against the floundering Pirates. They've done a very good job this summer of beating up on bad teams. Here's a golden opportunity to feast some more on a Pirates club that is a staggering 7-27 since the All-Star break, worst in the majors. We'll see if the Nats lineup can keep it going after absolutely terrorizing the Brewers pitching staff over the...
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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
BOSTON - Trey Mancini is playing first base tonight as the Orioles try to win for only the second time in their last 12 games. According to STATS, Mancini's streak of seven straight games with an extra-base hit at Fenway Park is the most by an Orioles player in club history and tied for fifth-longest by a visiting player. The Twins' Harmon Killebrew (May 24, 1962-May 20, 1963) and the Yankees' Carlos Beltrán (April 22, 2014-Aug. 31, 2015) share the record with nine. The Orioles' record...
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Game 122 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers

Game 122 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers
It's Season Plan Holder Appreciation Day here at Nationals Park. It's also Max Scherzer Simulated Game No. 2 Day. These two events are going on simultaneously, which is both cool (the fans are able to watch this) and awkward (Dan Kolko, Bo Porter and Alex Chappell are holding a Q&A as Scherzer pitches directly behind them). Anyways, tonight's game ... the Nationals are riding a five-game winning streak into this evening's contest. They'll look to improve to a season-best 12 games over...
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Game 123 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers

Game 123 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers
The Nationals close out a weekend series with the Brewers this afternoon, hoping resurgent right-hander Erick Fedde can deliver another strong outing and a series victory over the Brewers. Fedde's start - and his ability to give the Nats some length - takes on additional importance after Saturday night's 15-14 loss to the Brewers in 14 innings. The bullpen had to cover 10 innings after righty Aníbal Sánchez went only four frames, and it's possible the Nationals will make a move before...
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Orioles and Red Sox lineups

Orioles and Red Sox lineups
BOSTON - Trey Mancini makes his third start in left field tonight, stationed in front of the Green Monster, for the series opener against the Red Sox. DJ Stewart, reinstated from the seven-day concussion injured list, is in right field and Anthony Santander is in center. Jace Peterson is playing second base and Jonathan Villar is the shortstop.. Rio Ruiz is starting at third base, with Hanser Alberto on the bench. Chance Sisco is catching and batting ninth, one spot behind first baseman Chris...
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Game 121 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers

Game 121 lineups: Nats vs. Brewers
The Nationals have announced starters for this weekend. Aníbal Sánchez will start Saturday night, with Erick Fedde taking the mound Sunday afternoon. Obviously, neither of those guys is named Max Scherzer, so it appears the ace's return from the injured list isn't happening quite yet. But before you panic, he's out throwing in the outfield right now, so it doesn't appear he's had any setback. The Nats are just taking a more cautious approach with his return. But enough about the rest...
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Game 120 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

Game 120 lineups: Nats vs. Reds
In turning their season around, the Nationals have rebounded from a low point of 12 games under .500 to a high point of nine games over .500. They've had several chances to climb to 10 games over but to date haven't been able to reach that level. They'll get another chance today as they attempt to sweep the Reds. Stephen Strasburg takes the ball, looking to pick up where he left off Friday night in New York and earn his league-leading 15th win of the season. Strasburg has enjoyed success...
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Orioles and Yankees lineups (updated)

Orioles and Yankees lineups (updated)
NEW YORK - Trey Mancini is playing first base this afternoon as the Orioles try to salvage a game in the series and end their 15-game losing streak to the Yankees. Hanser Alberto is leading off and playing third base. The outfield includes Jace Peterson in left again and Stevie Wilkerson is in center. Richie Martin is the shortstop with Jonathan Villar at second base. Gleyber Torres is serving as the Yankees' designated hitter today. For the Orioles Hanser Alberto 3B Trey Mancini 1B Anthony...
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Game 119 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

Game 119 lineups: Nats vs. Reds
The forecast tonight isn't great, but for now, the Nationals and Reds are intending to play the second game of their series. Given the fact this is Cincinnati's only trip here this year, and tomorrow's finale is scheduled for 4:05 p.m., there's certainly motivation to get this one in tonight as scheduled. The Nationals have several players back in the lineup, headlined by Juan Soto. Turns out Soto will have missed only one game after spraining his right ankle rounding third base Sunday in...
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Game 118 lineups: Nats vs. Reds (Kendrick activated)

Game 118 lineups: Nats vs. Reds (Kendrick activated)
The Nationals are back home after a long and eventful road trip that started in Arizona with three new relievers, continued in San Francisco with a sweep and then concluded with a wild weekend in New York. Now they are right back at it with a week of home games against the Reds and Brewers. And they've got a familiar face back on their active roster (though not the lineup). Howie Kendrick is back after a brief stint on the injured list with a strained hamstring. Kendrick was activated this...
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Game 116 lineups: Nats at Mets

Game 116 lineups: Nats at Mets
NEW YORK - The Nationals need to find a way to bounce back quickly from Friday's difficult loss and get back in their series with the scorching Mets. Washington led 6-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth. But the Mets exploded for six hits against Nats closer Sean Doolittle, including a three-run homer by Todd Frazier to tie the game and a walk-off single to right field by Michael Conforto to pull off the 7-6 comeback. The Mets have won seven games in a row. But the Nats skipper was ready to...
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Game 114 lineups: Nats at Giants

Game 114 lineups: Nats at Giants
SAN FRANCISCO - The Nationals are in position to sweep the Giants this afternoon, so that perhaps gives Davey Martinez a little leeway with his lineup, perhaps not feeling the need to overwork guys with a quick turnaround to today's 12:45 p.m. local first pitch. That means we've got a bit of a new look here today. It's Asdrúbal Cabrera making his first start for the Nationals in five years, playing second base. And it's Gerardo Parra, who started last night in right field, at first base...
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