World Series Game 5 lineups: Nats vs. Astros (Scherzer scratched)

No matter what happens, whether positive or negative, tonight is the final baseball game of 2019 at Nationals Park. We've never known that before going in, at least not going into a postseason game. So it makes for both an exciting and bittersweet feeling. This season will end not here in D.C. but in Houston, either Tuesday night in Game 6 or Wednesday night in an oh-so-stressful Game 7.

But Nationals manager Davey Martinez opened his pregame press briefing with a piece of unexpected news: Max Scherzer has been scratched from tonight's start. Martinez said Scherzer woke up with spasms in his right trapezius muscle after experiencing discomfort in his neck last night. Instead, Joe Ross will get the ball in Game 5.

Ross threw two innings of one-hit relief on Friday night in the the Nats' 4-1 loss, his first career appearance ever against the Astros. The right-hander said after that game that he told Martinez he would be available Saturday, but he was not used in last night's 8-1 loss.

It's Gerrit Cole again for Houston tonight. The Nationals were able to get to the right-hander for five runs in Game 1. It would seem like an awfully tough task to duplicate that effort, but they'll need to come through with quality at-bats, especially if and when they get runners in scoring position.

Yan Gomes will catch tonight, though Martinez said Kurt Suzuki is available.

WORLD SERIES - GAME 5
WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs HOUSTON ASTROS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 8:07 p.m. EDT
TV: FOX
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 68 degrees, wind 8 mph left field to right field

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
2B Howie Kendrick
1B Ryan Zummerman
CF Victor Robles
C Yan Gomes
RHP Joe Ross

ASTROS
CF George Springer
2B Jose Altuve
RF Michael Brantley
3B Alex Bregman
1B Yuli Gurriel
LF Yordan Alvarez
SS Carlos Correa
C Martín Maldonado
RHP Gerrit Cole