Game 37 lineups: Nats at Cubs

The Nationals have been involved in their share of dramatic games at Wrigley Field in recent years. The last time they played on the North Side of Chicago in August 2019, they swept the Cubs in a wild series that many saw as the first real evidence this team was capable of winning the World Series. One year earlier, their playoff chances essentially were crushed on David Bote's walk-off grand slam off Ryan Madson. And, of course, in October 2017, Stephen Strasburg pitched one of the best games of his life to force the National League Division Series back to D.C. for a decisive Game 5.

The stakes aren't as high this week, but a four-game series between the two clubs has no shortage of compelling storylines. And it begins tonight with Jon Lester's return to Wrigley to face his former team, with Kyle Schwarber also returning to familiar grounds. Both should get a warm reception from the Cubs faithful, given their importance to that franchise's ascension to World Series champion in 2015-16.

The Nats could use a good performance from both. Lester has been pretty good in three starts so far, posting a 2.25 ERA and keeping the ball down in the zone to induce weak contact. They'll be looking for more of the same from the veteran lefty tonight.

Schwarber also has turned things up of late; over his last 10 games, he's batting .300 (12-for-40) with three homers, a .404 on-base percentage and .575 slugging percentage. He's batting cleanup tonight, but the pressure will be on Josh Bell (batting third) to protect Juan Soto and give Schwarber opportunities with runners in scoring position.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at CHICAGO CUBS
Where: Wrigley Field
Gametime: 7:40 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 58 degrees, wind 9 mph in from right field

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
LF Kyle Schwarber
3B Starlin Castro
2B Josh Harrison
C Yan Gomes
LHP Jon Lester
CF Victor Robles

CUBS
C Willson Contreras
LF Kris Bryant
1B Anthony Rizzo
SS Javier Báez
3B Matt Duffy
RF Jason Heyward
2B Nico Hoerner
CF Ian Happ
RHP Adbert Alzolay