Game 135 lineups: Nats vs. Cubs

It’s been a good week for the Nationals. It’s always nice to take two of three from the Yankees, but it’s especially nice to do so with your top prospect making his major league debut and leading the charge with other cornerstone young players.

Now the Nats welcome the Cubs for three games over this holiday weekend. Chicago is barely holding onto hope of a postseason berth, entering this series 9 ½ games back of the Brewers in the National League Central and five games back of the final NL Wild Card spot.

Jake Irvin looks to become the first Nationals pitcher to reach 10 wins this season when he takes the ball tonight. The right-hander will also try to continue a strong streak by Nats starters, who have combined to post a 1.94 ERA and 1.098 WHIP while striking out more than one batter per inning and never once allowing more than two earned runs over the last nine games.

Shota Imanaga will get the ball from Craig Counsell to oppose Irvin on the hill. The 30-year-old Japanese left-hander is in the running for NL Rookie of the Year with a 10-3 record and 3.08 ERA in 24 starts during an All-Star campaign.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. CHICAGO CUBS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 The Fan, DC 87.7 (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Cloudy, 78 degrees, wind 9 mph in from right-center field

NATIONALS
RF Dylan Crews
LF James Wood
DH Juan Yepez
1B Andrés Chaparro
3B José Tena
2B Ildemaro Vargas
SS CJ Abrams
C Keibert Ruiz
CF Jacob Young

RHP Jake Irvin

CUBS
LF Ian Happ
1B Michael Busch
DH Seiya Suzuki
RF Cody Bellinger
3B Isaac Paredes
2B Nico Hoerner
SS Dansby Swanson
CF Pete Crow-Armstrong
C Miguel Amaya

LHP Shota Imanaga