Game 144 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

It's one of the biggest games of the season, a mid-September matchup of the first- and second-place teams in the National League East, one of them trying to move closer to the division title, the other trying to continue a late surge toward a wild card berth that looked implausible only a couple weeks ago.

And the pitching matchup for the opener between the Nationals and Mets will be ... Mat Latos vs. Rafael Montero?

Such is the state of both clubs' rotations, which have been disrupted by injuries. And in the Nationals' case, the struggles of prospects Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez also prompted manager Dusty Baker and pitching coach Mike Maddux to turn to an unlikely option tonight in Latos. The veteran right-hander was released by the White Sox in June (after getting roughed by the Nats), then signed a minor league deal here to serve strictly as last-ditch insurance. Well, here he is making his first big league start since - and in a pennant race against the Mets, nonetheless.

Montero, meanwhile, is something of a last resort option for the Mets, as well. Once a highly touted prospect, he languished at Triple-A this season, but now has been called upon to start a big game for his team.

NEW YORK METS 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: Clear, 77 degrees, wind 5 mph in from right field

NATIONALS (85-58)
CF Trea Turner
LF Jayson Werth
2B Daniel Murphy
RF Bryce Harper
3B Anthony Rendon
C Wilson Ramos
1B Ryan Zimmerman
SS Danny Espinosa
RHP Mat Latos

METS (76-67)
3B Jose Reyes
SS Asdrubal Cabrera
LF Yoenis Cespedes
CF Curtis Granderson
2B Kelly Johnson
RF Jay Bruce
C Travis d'Arnaud
1B James Loney
RHP Rafael Montero