Game 41 lineups: Nats vs. Rays

The 2020 regular season, believe it or not, is now two-thirds complete. There are only 20 games left for the Nationals to try to climb their way back into the expanded postseason, and the odds remain awfully slim. At 15-25, they're currently five games behind the .500 Marlins and Giants for the eighth and final berth in the National League field. To get to .500, the Nats would need to go 15-5 the rest of the way. Maybe they'd get in a game or two under .500, but you get the idea. It's going to take something extraordinary at this point.

The good news: The Nationals have Juan Soto back in their lineup tonight after five games missed with a sore left elbow. Soto won't be in left field, only serving as the designated hitter, but that's certainly better than not playing at all. And with left-hander Ryan Yarbrough on the mound for the Rays, the Nats get to use their right-handed-heavy lineup, which has been quite an advantage this season. They're batting an major league-best .302 off lefties, with a .523 slugging percentage that ranks second.

It's up to Aníbal Sánchez to give his teammates a chance to win, something the veteran right-hander has not done enough this season. Sánchez needs to get through a clean first inning, then he needs to finish strong and - like Max Scherzer on Monday night - go deep into the game and allow Davey Martinez to use his bullpen as he wants.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. TAMPA BAY RAYS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 83 degrees, wind 7 mph right field to left field

NATIONALS
CF Victor Robles
RF Adam Eaton
SS Trea Turner
DH Juan Soto
C Kurt Suzuki
1B Asdrúbal Cabrera
2B Josh Harrison
LF Brock Holt
3B Carter Kieboom

RHP Aníbal Sánchez

RAYS
DH Austin Meadows
2B Brandon Lowe
LF Randy Arozarena
1B Ji-Man Choi
3B Yoshi Tsutsugo
RF Manuel Margot
CF Kevin Kiermaier
SS Willy Adames
C Michael Perez

LHP Ryan Yarbrough