Game 102 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals (update: Fedde to IL)

The Nationals are back to work tonight, hoping to bounce back from Friday night’s 6-2 loss to the Cardinals and emerge with a victory that would ensure July 2022 doesn’t surpass July 2008 as the worst month in club history. They need just one more win to make sure they finish at least 6-19 this month. (That 2008 team went 5-20 in July to establish the rock-bottom mark for the organization since it arrived in D.C.)

The Nats will try to do so with a rotation change. They just announced Paolo Espino is starting tonight’s game instead of Erick Fedde. No word yet on the reason for that change, but I’m sure we’ll get it soon, so stay tuned.

Meanwhile, the Nationals will try to get something going offensively tonight against Dakota Hudson, who has struggled quite a bit of late. Over his last seven starts, the Cardinals right-hander is 2-4 with a 6.16 ERA and 1.579 WHIP.

Tonight’s game is on FOX, with Aaron Goldsmith on play-by-play, Tom Verducci as analyst and Ken Rosenthal as dugout reporter. It’s available to most everyone in Maryland, D.C., Virginia and most of the Midwest. Here’s the full coverage map.

Update: The Nationals have placed Fedde on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to July 27, with right shoulder inflammation. They've recalled right-hander Cory Abbott from Triple-A Rochester.

ST LOUIS CARDINALS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:15 p.m. EDT
TV: FOX (coverage map), MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 85 degrees, wind 7 mph out to right field

NATIONALS
CF Victor Robles
2B César Hernández
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
DH Nelson Cruz
LF Yadiel Hernandez
SS Luis García
C Keibert Ruiz
3B Maikel Franco

RHP Paolo Espino

CARDINALS
CF Dylan Carlson
LF Tyler O'Neill
1B Paul Goldschmidt
3B Nolan Arenado
RF Lars Nootbaar
SS Paul DeJong
C Andrew Knizner
2B Tommy Edman

RHP Dakota Hudson