Game 20 lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the early season has been Gio Gonzalez, who has been absolutely dominant through his first three starts. There's the obvious (1.42 ERA) but more impressive is his 20-to-4 strikeout-to-walk rate. Is this a sign of what we can expect all year, or has the left-hander simply taken advantage of some weak lineups? It's still too early to say for sure, but you can't not be impressed with the results so far.

At the plate, the Nationals are still trying to get their collective act together. Yes, Bryce Harper has somehow elevated his MVP performance from a year ago, and Daniel Murphy has been everything advertised (and then some). But the rest of the lineup has left something to be desired.

Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman are underperforming to date, and given how those two are sandwiched around Harper in the lineup, they've got to start getting it together soon. Michael A. Taylor and Jayson Werth are showing some signs of busting out of their early slumps, though each still has a way to go. Danny Espinosa looks like the old Danny Espinosa (which is a problem). And with Wilson Ramos on bereavement leave following his grandfather's death, the Nationals are going to need their backup catchers (Jose Lobaton and Pedro Severino) to contribute as well.

We'll see how that plays out tonight against Jeremy Hellickson and the Phillies. One other note: Matt Belisle has officially been placed on the 15-day DL with a right calf strain. Sammy Solis has been recalled from Triple-A Syracuse to give the Nats a fresh reliever capable of going multiple innings, in case something happens to Gonzalez early in tonight's game ...

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, XM 184, MLB.com
Weather: Chance of rain late, 61 degrees, wind 8 mph in from right field

NATIONALS
CF Michael A. Taylor
3B Anthony Rendon
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
2B Daniel Murphy
LF Jayson Werth
SS Danny Espinosa
C Jose Lobaton
LHP Gio Gonzalez

PHILLIES
CF Odubel Herrera
SS Freddie Galvis
3B Maikel Franco
1B Darrin Ruf
C Carlos Ruiz
2B Cesar Hernandez
LF Tyler Goeddel
RHP Jeremy Hellickson
RF Peter Bourjos