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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Game 113 lineups: Nats at Giants

Game 113 lineups: Nats at Giants
SAN FRANCISCO - The Nationals have a bit of different look going on with tonight's lineup. With rookie left-hander Conner Menez starting for the Giants, Davey Martinez has bumped Matt Adams all the way down to the No. 7 spot, behind Kurt Suzuki and Brian Dozier. And he's giving Gerardo Parra a start in right field instead of Adam Eaton, and keeping Parra in the No. 2 spot. Some of this is byproduct of the makeup of the Nationals bench right now, with two key right-handed hitters injured (Ryan...
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Game 112 lineups: Nats at Giants

Game 112 lineups: Nats at Giants
SAN FRANCISCO - It's a beautiful afternoon along McCovey Cove, but don't kid yourself. It's going to be downright chilly tonight by the time the Nationals and Giants get their series opener underway. After the 110-degree heat of Arizona over the weekend, the upper 50s in the forecast later tonight are going to be quite a shock to the system. The Nats would love to get hot the next few days, no matter the temperature. They've dropped three straight series and really need to get themselves...
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Game 111 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks

Game 111 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks
PHOENIX - Hello one more time from Chase Field, where the Nationals and Diamondbacks wrap up their series this afternoon, each seeking to walk away having won two of three. And each sends a guy to the mound with a connection to the opposing team. Patrick Corbin makes his return to the desert, facing the organization that developed him into an All-Star, then watched him leave for Washington and $140 million. Corbin has enjoyed catching up with friends the last few days, but he's now all...
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Game 110 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks

Game 110 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks
PHOENIX - Fresh off Friday night's impressive pitching effort in a 3-0, one-hit shutout of the Diamondbacks, the Nationals now try to make it two in a row while Stephen Strasburg tries to make it eight in a row. That would be eight wins in a row for Strasburg, the newly minted National League Picher of the Month for July, who has emerged with a W in each of his last seven starts. His last loss came way back on June 15. That actually remains the last time any of the Nats' top four starters...
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Game 109 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks

Game 109 lineups: Nats at Diamondbacks
PHOENIX - Hello from The Valley of the Sun, where it's a dry 109 degrees outside but thankfully much cooler inside Chase Field, where the Nationals and Diamondbacks open a three-game series tonight. The Nats have three new relievers available out of their bullpen in Hunter Strickland, Daniel Hudson and Roenis Elías. We'll find out soon enough how Davey Martinez intends to use them. Before they can get to any of those relievers, of course, Joe Ross takes the ball for only his second major...
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Game 107 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

Game 107 lineups: Nats vs. Braves
Why was Monday night's win so important for the Nationals? Because it allowed them to take early control of this three-game series with the Braves, who are now the ones facing some pressure to bounce back and not let their lead in the division dwindle to 3 1/2 games. The Nationals still have plenty of work to do to take this series, and they face a stiff challenge tonight with Erick Fedde - not Max Scherzer - getting the start. Fedde hasn't faced Atlanta yet this season, but he's quietly put...
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