Game 111 lineups: Nats vs. Reds

After a long day and night at the ballpark on Saturday, the Nationals return to the ballpark today for what amounts to a pretty big series finale with the Reds. Obviously, every game is big at this point, but consider that the Nats need to win today to win the series. And carry some positive momentum into their critical upcoming four-games-in-three-days series with the Braves. Which leads into a seven-game road trip to Chicago and St. Louis.

So, yeah, a win today would help a lot of things. Which means a strong start from Tanner Roark would help, as well. The right-hander has been utterly dominant his last two times out (15 innings, seven hits, one run, one walk, 18 strikeouts). He did that against the Brewers and Mets. Can he continue the trend against the Reds?

The big question coming out of Saturday night's win was whether Bryce Harper would be able to play today after getting hit on the kneecap by a pitch. The answer: He is. Harper is starting in center field and batting cleanup against Cincinnati right-hander Luis Castillo, who enters with a 4.98 ERA for the season but a 2.25 ERA over his last five starts.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. CINCINNATI REDS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 92 degrees, wind 5 mph out to center field

NATIONALS
RF Adam Eaton
LF Juan Soto
3B Anthony Rendon
CF Bryce Harper
2B Daniel Murphy
1B Matt Adams
C Matt Wieters
RHP Tanner Roark
SS Wilmer Difo

REDS
SS José Peraza
LF Phillip Ervin
2B Scooter Gennett
3B Eugenio Suárez
RF Mason Williams
C Tucker Barnhart
1B Brandon Dixon
RHP Luis Castillo
CF Billy Hamilton