Game 120 lineups: Nats vs. Blue Jays

Unfortunately for the Nationals, Joe Ross' season-ending injury is another blow to an already depleted rotation, one that bears no resemblance to what the club expected to have at the beginning of the season. Fortunately, the two off-days this week surrounding this two-game set with the Blue Jays allow those who are available to pitch to do so on normal rest, not requiring manager Davey Martinez to do much shuffling.

This afternoon we'll get another look at Josiah Gray, who has become a must-watch since arriving to D.C. as a part of the deal sending Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers. Over his first three starts with the Nats, Gray has posted a 2.81 ERA with 18 strikeouts to just four walks (one intentional).

His stuff certainly plays at this level. Now it's just a matter of going deeper into starts. After only completing five innings in his first two outings, he was brought back out to start the seventh in his last start against the Braves, but was replaced after giving up a home run and a single to start the frame.

Speaking of home runs, that's another thing to keep an eye on when Gray takes the mound: limiting the longball. He's allowed at least one home run in each of his appearances this year (including his two with the Dodgers) for a total of nine on the season. Five of those nine have come with the Nats, including the three solo shots he surrendered Friday against Atlanta.

José Berríos makes his fourth start with the Blue Jays since being traded by the Twins at the deadline for two prospects. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in Toronto and pitched seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball in his only start against Washington back in 2019.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 83 degrees, wind 13 mph out to left field

NATIONALS
CF Victor Robles
SS Alcides Escobar
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
LF Yadiel Hernandez
3B Carter Kieboom
2B Luis García
C Riley Adams
RHP Josiah Gray

BLUE JAYS
2B Marcus Simien
SS Bo Bichette
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
RF Teoscar Hernández
LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
3B Breyvic Valera
CF Randal Grichuk
C Reese McGuire
RHP José Berríos