Game 40 lineups: Nats at Cubs

After a crazy Wednesday night in Chicago, the Nationals are back at it this afternoon, looking to win their series finale against the Cubs and split the four-game set. It took a lot of effort to pull off their 4-3 victory, which came by the skin of its teeth. And they'll go into today's game with a depleted lineup.

Victor Robles, who injured his right ankle rounding first base on an RBI single, is not starting today. That's not surprising, given how scary the play looked and how Robles eventually needed to be removed from the game as the ankle swelled up. He was due to undergo tests afterward, and hopefully manager Davey Martinez will have an update on his status here shortly.

So it's Andrew Stevenson in center field and batting ninth, trying to get on base and set the table for Trea Turner and Juan Soto (who had a big night and afterward said he's starting to feel like himself again at the plate). Jordy Mercer and Alex Avila also are playing today, with Josh Harrison and Yan Gomes on the bench.

Joe Ross gets the ball against the Cubs, and his situation has changed a bit since we last saw him. Roughed up by the Diamondbacks last weekend, Ross looked like he might be pitching for his job today. But with Erick Fedde now on the COVID-19 injured list and Stephen Strasburg likely to take his spot in the rotation Friday night against the Orioles, Ross appears to be safe for now. A better performance this afternoon would certainly help solidify his cause, though.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at CHICAGO CUBS
Where: Wrigley Field
Gametime: 2:20 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 78 degrees, wind 14 mph out to left field

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
LF Kyle Schwarber
3B Starlin Castro
C Alex Avila
2B Jordy Mercer
RHP Joe Ross
CF Andrew Stevenson

CUBS
LF Joc Pederson
1B Anthony Rizzo
SS Javier Báez
CF Ian Happ
3B David Bote
2B Nico Hoerner
RF Nick Martini
C P.J. Higgins
RHP Trevor Williams