Game 111 lineups: Nats at Braves

The Nationals aren't playing winning baseball right now, not anything close to winning baseball. They enter tonight's game in Atlanta having dropped five in a row and 23 of 32 overall. So the focus, of course, turns to individual performances, especially those who figure into the club's long-term plans.

So tonight we get an opportunity to watch one of the key building blocks again: Josiah Gray. The 23-year-old right-hander, one of the key prospects acquired from the Dodgers for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner, impressed in his Nats debut last week with five innings of one-run ball against the Phillies.

Gray faces a tougher challenge this time, though, in a Braves lineup that includes Freddie Freeman, Austin Riley and Dansby Swanson. His task tonight: Miss some more bats and try to keep the pitch count down as much as possible. He threw 71 in five innings last time, which was fine. The Braves tend to work at-bats more than that, though, so don't be surprised if it takes more pitches to get through five frames in this one.

For the second straight day, the Nationals won't have Juan Soto in their lineup. Manager Davey Martinez said Soto was available to pinch-hit in the ninth inning Friday night, but it appears his right knee remains sore enough not to take a chance letting him play an entire game in the field. We'll get an update from Martinez on Soto's condition in a little while.

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: Chance of rain, 77 degrees, wind 5 mph out to center field

NATIONALS
CF Andrew Stevenson
SS Alcides Escobar
LF Yadiel Hernandez
1B Josh Bell
RF Gerardo Parra
3B Carter Kieboom
2B Luis García
C Riley Adams
RHP Josiah Gray

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
RHP Charlie Morton