Game 140 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

There is a healthy amount of anticipation and concern at Nationals Park this afternoon, as everyone awaits an update on Stephen Strasburg's elbow. Dusty Baker is scheduled to meet with reporters at 4 p.m., though I'd offer one word of caution: It's possible the Nats won't provide a definitive diagnosis this afternoon, especially if the MRI results need to be viewed by outside doctors (which would not be unusual at all).

Regardless of any Strasburg news or non-news, the Nationals open a four-game weekend series with the Phillies tonight. It'll be A.J. Cole making his fifth career start, something most of us would not have expected only a few weeks ago, not to mention seeking his second straight quality start after beating the Mets last weekend.

Right-hander Alec Asher, who went 0-6 with a 9.31 ERA last season for Philadelphia (including a loss to the Nats), makes his 2016 big league debut tonight. The 24-year-old, who was part of the Cole Hamels blockbuster trade with the Rangers, had a 2.37 ERA and 0.897 WHIP in the Phillies' farm system this season.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, XM 183, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 89 degrees, wind 9 mph out to center field

NATIONALS (82-57)
CF Trea Turner
LF Jayson Werth
2B Daniel Murphy
RF Bryce Harper
3B Anthony Rendon
1B Ryan Zimmerman
SS Danny Espinosa
C Jose Lobaton
RHP A.J. Cole

PHILLIES (62-77)
2B Cesar Hernandez
CF Odubel Herrera
3B Andres Blanco
1B Ryan Howard
C Cameron Rupp
SS Freddy Galvis
LF Aaron Altherr
RF Peter Bourjos
RHP Alec Asher