After winning the completion of Wednesday night's suspended game, the Nationals now attempt to sweep this not-really-a-doubleheader against the Reds, hoping to get a big-time start from Stephen Strasburg and avoid using the relievers they needed to close out the earlier 5-3 win.
Strasburg was pretty good in his first start off the injured list, tossing 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Orioles, though he pretty clearly was running out of gas by the fifth. The Nats will hope the right-hander has more in the tank tonight, perhaps reaching the 90-pitch mark before he needs to be replaced.
Because this is a seven-inning game - don't ask us, ask Rob Manfred why that's necessary - manager Davey Martinez doesn't necessarily need more than five innings from Strasburg. A sixth would be great. Then it's a decision whether or not to use either or both of Daniel Hudson and Brad Hand after each pitched in the opener.
The Nationals will need to score some runs of their own against a tough competitor in the Reds' Sonny Gray. One notable change to the lineup: Luis GarcÃa, who delivered a key triple as a pinch-hitter earlier today, gets the start at second base over Josh Harrison. Otherwise, it's the usual group out there.
CINCINNATI REDS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 82 degrees, wind 6 mph in from left field
NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
LF Kyle Schwarber
3B Starlin Castro
2B Luis GarcÃa
C Yan Gomes
CF Andrew Stevenson
RHP Stephen Strasburg
REDS
3B Eugenio Suárez
LF Jesse Winker
RF Tyler Naquin
C Tyler Stephenson
CF Shogo Akiyama
SS Kyle Farmer
2B Max Schrock
RHP Sonny Gray
1B Alex Blandino
By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.masnsports.com/