Even after elimination, Nats sticking with regular lineup

ST. LOUIS - Prior to yesterday's game, Davey Johnson said that even if his team was to be eliminated from the playoff picture, he still planned on "putting my best foot forward" by starting his regular players down the stretch. Johnson is a man of his word. The Nationals skipper is running out his normal starting lineup today in game two of this three-game set against the Cardinals. Johnson talked last night, after the Nats had been eliminated, about wanting to deliver some payback to the Cardinals by preventing them from winning the National League Central. The Cardinals, after all, have eliminated the Nats in two straight seasons (in the National League Division Series last year and with a regular season win last night), and at this point, the Nats would like nothing more than to take the final two games of this series and try and spoil St. Louis' shot at a division title. Gio Gonzalez (11-7, 3.39 ERA) starts for the Nats tonight, with right-hander Michael Wacha (3-1, 3.21 ERA) going for the Cards. Gonzalez is 9-0 with a 2.10 ERA in 14 starts against NL Central teams since joining the Nats last season. For the Nats CF Denard Span 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Jayson Werth LF Bryce Harper SS Ian Desmond 1B Adam LaRoche C Wilson Ramos 2B Anthony Rendon LHP Gio Gonzalez