Game 30 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates

What's this? Do the Nationals have a chance tonight to go on - dare we say it? - a legitimate winning streak? They've won two in a row, and now they send Max Scherzer to the mound, a development that has produced a 5-1 record so far this season.

Scherzer will need to keep up his winning ways tonight against the Pirates, and he'd certainly like to reach at least the seventh inning for the first time since April 14 against Colorado. He's working on an extra day of rest, so that should allow him to push himself well beyond the 100-pitch mark tonight.

We'll have to wait and see who is available out of the Nationals bullpen for this one, but it's going to be a thin group once again. Brandon Kintzler has now pitched three days in a row, so he's probably out. Ryan Madson has pitched three of the last four days and has been trying to ease off the gas pedal some. Sean Doolittle had last night off, but he pitched each of the three previous days. It might be time, depending on the situation, for Trevor Gott or even Wander Suero to take the mound late in a tight spot.

As for the Nationals' lineup tonight ... it's different. How different? How about Bryce Harper leading off. Is that different enough for you? Look, there's some logic to it. Might as well put the guy with 38 walks, zero extra-base hits in last 12 games and scant protection behind him at the top of the lineup, ensuring the Pirates have to pitch to him at least in the first inning. And with the hot-hitting Trea Turner batting second, there's some potentially better protection for Harper.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Sunny, 76 degrees, wind 8 mph out to center field

NATIONALS
RF Bryce Harper
SS Trea Turner
LF Matt Adams
1B Ryan Zimmerman
2B Howie Kendrick
CF Michael A. Taylor
C Matt Wieters
RHP Max Scherzer
3B Wilmer Difo

PIRATES
2B Adam Frazier
RF Gregory Polanco
CF Starling Marte
1B Josh Bell
LF Corey Dickerson
C Francisco Cervelli
3B Colin Moran
SS Jordy Mercer
RHP Chad Kuhl