Game 11 lineups: Nats vs. Diamondbacks

The Nationals have slogged their way through a few clunkers in the last week. The good news: They've bounced back in each case to play well the following day and win. So perhaps that portends better things tonight when they face the Diamondbacks and try to erase all memory of Thursday night's fiasco.

It starts, of course, with Max Scherzer, who is desperately needed tonight not only to pitch well but to pitch as deep into the game as possible after Patrick Corbin was knocked out two innings into the series opener. Keep an eye on Scherzer's pitch count: He threw 91 pitches on opening day, then 90 in his next start, each time completing six innings. Will manager Davey Martinez push him further this time, perhaps over the 100-pitch mark?

The Nationals have looked pretty good at the plate since all the regulars finally debuted Monday in St. Louis. And if not for Corbin's struggles Thursday, we might well have been talking about the pounding the Nats put on Arizona starter Merrill Kelly in the bottom of the first. They'll look to get off to a hot start again tonight against right-hander Taylor Widener, making only his third career start. The 26-year-old was excellent in his season debut against the Padres (six scoreless innings), not as much against the Reds (four runs, seven hits in five innings).

Victor Robles, who led off the season's first eight games, then hit ninth the last two games, now will bat eighth in front of Scherzer. Alex Avila is behind the plate to catch Scherzer for the first time since they were teammates in Detroit in 2014.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly clear, 57 degrees, wind 15 mph in from left field

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
LF Kyle Schwarber
2B Josh Harrison
3B Starlin Castro
C Alex Avila
CF Victor Robles
RHP Max Scherzer

DIAMONDBACKS
CF Tim Locastro
RF Kole Calhoun
1B Asdrúbal Cabrera
LF David Peralta
2B Josh VanMeter
3B Eduardo Escobar
C Carson Kelly
SS Josh Rojas
RHP Taylor Widener