Game 27 lineups: Nats vs. Diamondbacks

As impressive as Ryan Zimmerman was in April, there was no bigger surprise on the Nationals roster in the season's first month than Gio Gonzalez. After a ragged 2016, Gonzalez burst onto the scene to begin this year, going 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA in five starts.

Now we find out if the lefty can keep it going and not fall back into the same traps that befell him last season after a strong start. He'll face a tough challenge tonight in the Diamondbacks, who, as we saw last night, can grind out at-bats with the best of them and drive up a starter's pitch count. Gonzalez will need to get some quick outs and avoid the kind of long innings that plagued Tanner Roark last night.

Matt Wieters returns to the Nationals lineup after missing a game with an illness, so Dusty Baker will have all his regulars (his post-Adam Eaton injury regulars, that is) starting tonight against Robbie Ray. The Diamondbacks lefty is a former Nats prospect, one of the pieces dealt to the Tigers in the Doug Fister trade. Ray is coming into his own, striking out more than 11 batters per nine innings the last two seasons. The key: Being patient enough not to chase pitches out of the zone, because Ray has issued 17 walks in only 30 1/3 innings so far this year.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, XM 186/869, MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 64 degrees, wind 10 mph left field to right field

NATIONALS (17-9)
SS Trea Turner
LF Jayson Werth
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
2B Daniel Murphy
3B Anthony Rendon
CF Michael A. Taylor
C Matt Wieters
LHP Gio Gonzalez

DIAMONDBACKS (17-11)
CF A.J. Pollock
RF Chris Owings
1B Paul Goldschmidt
3B Jake Lamb
LF Yasmany Tomás
2B Brandon Drury
SS Nick Ahmed
C Jeff Mathis
LHP Robbie Ray