Game 110 lineups: Nats at Braves

The Nationals are in a tough spot right now, and if you didn't already know why, here's some evidence: In eight of their last 12 games, they've held the lead going into the ninth inning. And they've only emerged victorious in three of them.

So on one hand, even the rebuilding, inexperienced Nats are still putting themselves in a position to win more than they lose. But they're not actually winning more than they're losing. Quite the contrary. They've lost 22 of their last 31. That's the worst record in the National League over that extended stretch, and better than the American League-worst Rangers only by percentage points.

Now the Nationals head to Atlanta for a three-game weekend series with a Braves club that, after a long slog to this point, has finally surpassed the .500 mark for the first time this season and suddenly finds itself right in the thick of a three-team race for the NL East title along with the Mets and Phillies (who face each other beginning tonight).

Erick Fedde gets the start tonight, and the best thing he can do is provide length while also giving his teammates a chance to win. That's exactly what he did last weekend against the Cubs, giving up three runs but reaching a season-high 108 pitches while completing six innings. Look for Davey Martinez to try to push the right-hander again to go as far as he can, both for his own development and to try to take some of the workload off a bullpen that just isn't up to snuff at this point.

The Braves send rookie left-hander Kyle Muller to the mound, and he's been quite good to date, with a 2.43 ERA and 1.146 WHIP in 29 2/3 innings. This is the first time the Nationals will have faced the 23-year-old, a second-round pick in the 2016 draft.

You'll notice a very big name missing from the Nats lineup: Juan Soto. The star right fielder tweaked his right knee running the bases in the bottom of the ninth Thursday afternoon, and though he was able to go through some drills today in Atlanta, manager Davey Martinez said a short while ago he was "50/50" to actually play. Turns out he's not playing, and that leaves a gaping hole in the Washington lineup.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Truist Park
Gametime: 7:20 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 82 degrees, wind 6 mph in from left field

NATIONALS
CF Victor Robles
SS Alcides Escobar
LF Yadiel Hernandez
1B Josh Bell
3B Carter Kieboom
2B Luis García
C Tres Barrera
RF Gerardo Parra
RHP Erick Fedde

BRAVES
2B Ozzie Albies
RF Jorge Soler
1B Freddie Freeman
3B Austin Riley
SS Dansby Swanson
LF Adam Duvall
CF Joc Pederson
C Stephen Vogt
LHP Kyle Muller