Game 51 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals

By Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

May 29, 2016, 6:44am

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Since the Nationals have lost only three series this season, this isn't a familiar position for them today, needing to beat the Cardinals to salvage a four-game split and avoid a 2-5 homestand. So there's a little bit of pressure on them this afternoon after back-to-back losses.

The good news: Stephen Strasburg is pitching for the Nats, and he has been fantastic, with eight quality starts in 10 tries this season. In seven of those starts, he has allowed two or fewer earned runs. Five times he has struck out 10 or more batters. And, of course, his record is 8-0.

The bad news: Michael Wacha is pitching for the Cardinals, and though he's been bad of late (he has lasted only four innings and allowed at least six runs in each of his last three starts), he has been brilliant in his career against the Nationals (two earned runs, 15 total baserunners in 22 2/3 innings).

One lineup tweak from Dusty Baker: Jayson Werth gets today off. Ben Revere is leading off as usual, but playing left field, with Michael A. Taylor batting second and playing center field.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, Ch. 9, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, XM 183, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 82 degrees, wind 6 mph out to left field

NATIONALS (29-21)
LF Ben Revere
CF Michael A. Taylor
RF Bryce Harper
2B Daniel Murphy
1B Ryan Zimmerman
3B Anthony Rendon
C Wilson Ramos
SS Danny Espinosa
RHP Stephen Strasburg

CARDINALS (26-24)
3B Matt Carpenter
SS Greg Garcia
LF Matt Holliday
1B Matt Adams
CF Randal Grichuk
RF Brandon Moss
2B Jedd Gyorko
C Eric Fryer
RHP Michael Wacha