Game 123 lineups: Nats at Braves

By Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

August 21, 2016, 6:50am

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ATLANTA - It's another steamy day at Turner Field, with (of course) a chance for rain this afternoon as the Nationals and Braves wrap up their four-game series. The Nats, who are already 11-1 against Atlanta this season, are going for a rare, four-game sweep.

Anthony Rendon and Jayson Werth are getting the day off. For Rendon, it's his first since July 19. He had started 28 consecutive games at third base. That was necessary in part because Stephen Drew has been on the disabled list, and because the team had no other backup third baseman besides Daniel Murphy. But Wilmer Difo has been learning the position the last week or so and today makes his first career start at the hot corner.

Gio Gonzalez gets the ball for the Nationals, who desperately need quality innings from their starter today, with the bullpen just about gassed out. I would suspect Yusmeiro Petit is going to be the primary reliever this afternoon, probably for multiple innings, no matter the situation.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ATLANTA BRAVES
Where: Turner Field
Gametime: 1:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, Ch. 9, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, XM 185/869, MLB.com
Weather: Chance of storms, 86 degrees, wind 12 mph out to right field

NATIONALS (73-49)
CF Trea Turner
SS Danny Espinosa
2B Daniel Murphy
RF Bryce Harper
C Wilson Ramos
1B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Chris Heisey
3B Wilmer Difo
LHP Gio Gonzalez

BRAVES (44-79)
SS Dansby Swanson
3B Adonis Garcia
1B Nick Markakis
LF Matt Kemp
RF Jeff Francoeur
C Anthony Recker
CF Jace Peterson
2B Gordon Beckham
RHP Joel De La Cruz