Game 47 lineups: Nats at Rays

How do the Nationals avoid a repeat of Tuesday night's lifeless, 6-1 loss to the Rays? They need to get a much better pitching performance and they need to hit. Obviously.

On the mound, it's up to Austin Voth to somehow make the leap into a guy who can actually get hitters out twice in a game. We know he can do it the first time through the order. It's time for him to show he can do it the second time as well.

At the plate, it's up to this lineup to not get freaked out by the Rays' unconventional pitching methods. On Tuesday, they did nothing against opener John Curtiss, then nothing against starter-turned-reliever Ryan Yarbrough. They'll face another opener today in right-hander Pete Fairbanks, who is then set to be replaced by lefty Josh Fleming.

There's one interesting twist to the Nationals lineup: Yadiel Hernández not only gets the start as designated hitter, but he'll bat second between Adam Eaton and Trea Turner. That's an awfully big assignment for the 32-year-old rookie, who is 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in his nascent big league career. But perhaps Davey Martinez is thinking he might get some better pitches to hit batting in front of Turner and Juan Soto.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at TAMPA BAY RAYS
Where: Tropicana Field
Gametime: 1:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Indoors

NATIONALS
RF Adam Eaton
DH Yadiel Hernández
SS Trea Turner
LF Juan Soto
1B Asdrúbal Cabrera
C Yan Gomes
3B Carter Kieboom
2B Luis García
CF Victor Robles

RHP Austin Voth

RAYS
DH Austin Meadows
2B Brandon Lowe
LF Randy Arozarena
1B Nate Lowe
RF Manuel Margot
3B Joey Wendle
SS Willy Adames
CF Kevin Kiermaier
C Michael Perez

RHP Pete Fairbanks




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