Game 155 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

This has been looming on the schedule for months. Five games in four days against the Phillies, the result of a rainout in mid-June. At the time, we had no idea how significant this would be for one or both of these teams, or even whether it would be significant for either of them. The answer: It's very significant for the Nationals, not all that significant for the Phillies, who remain mathematically alive but are hanging on by a thread. (Their elimination number is three.)

The Nats, of course, need to finish strong this week to lock up a spot in next Tuesday's wild card game, and if they want to host that game they'll need to win two more games this week than the Brewers do. Milwaukee won't take the field again until Tuesday night, at which point the Nationals will have already played twice. So, in essence, if the Nats win these first two games against Philly, they would just need to do the same as the Brewers the rest of the week to get home-field advantage. If they lose once or twice in the next 24 hours, they'll need to make up ground.

Tonight's series opener sees Patrick Corbin on the mound against Bryce Harper and a Phillies lineup that ranks eighth in the National League in runs, 11th in homers, 10th in on-base percentage and 11th in OPS. The Nats go up against righty Zach Eflin, with the full currently healthy lineup on Davey Martinez's card. That includes Asdrúbal Cabrera, who returns after he sat out Sunday's game with a sore right ankle.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 85 degrees, wind 10 mph out to right field

NATIONALS (85-69)
SS Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
1B Howie Kendrick
2B Asdrúbal Cabrera
CF Victor Robles
C Yan Gomes
LHP Patrick Corbin

PHILLIES (79-75)
SS Jean Segura
RF Bryce Harper
3B Scott Kingery
1B Rhys Hoskins
LF Jose Pirela
2B César Hernández
CF Adam Haseley
C Andrew Knapp
RHP Zach Eflin