It's a hot, muggy Saturday here in the District, as sure a sign as we've experienced yet that summer has arrived. Which, the Nationals can only hope, means the ball is going to fly out of the park tonight. Dusty Baker has insisted all along he thinks he's got a warm-weather lineup. We saw it earlier in the week when the Nats hit five homers on another warm night. We'll see if it holds true tonight.
That Nationals lineup will be facing an ace in Adam Wainwright, though this isn't the Wainwright you've seen over the years. The 34-year-old right-hander enters with a 5.77 ERA, his mechanics out of whack as he returns from nearly a year off following an Achilles' tear. He has been better of late, with back-to-back quality starts. But keep an eye on his trademark curveball tonight. If he doesn't have it early, that's a telltale sign he could be in trouble.
Gio Gonzalez has an awfully good curveball himself, and he usually has it when he takes the mound. The Nationals will hope the lefty is back in top form tonight after struggling last time out. Jose Lobaton is back behind the plate for Gonzalez, while Anthony Rendon gets the night off. Stephen Drew will start at third.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:15 p.m. EDT
TV: FOX (coverage map), MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, XM 183, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 83 degrees, wind 10 mph out to left field
NATIONALS (29-20)
CF Ben Revere
LF Jayson Werth
RF Bryce Harper
2B Daniel Murphy
1B Ryan Zimmerman
3B Stephen Drew
SS Danny Espinosa
C Jose Lobaton
LHP Gio Gonzalez
CARDINALS (25-24)
1B Matt Carpenter
SS Aledmys Diaz
LF Matt Holliday
RF Stephen Piscotty
CF Randal Grichuk
C Yadier Molina
2B Jedd Gyorko
3B Greg Garcia
RHP Adam Wainwright
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