Game 59 lineups: Nats at Marlins (Cruz scratched)

MIAMI – There’s going to be a right-hander wearing No. 37 on the mound for the Nationals tonight, as you may have heard. It’s the first time Stephen Strasburg will be pitching in that uniform since June 1, 2021, when he departed a start in Atlanta in the second inning with neck and shoulder discomfort, eventually to learn he needed thoracic outlet surgery.

All this time later, Strasburg is back. He has made it through the long rehab process, tossing six scoreless innings on 83 pitches last week in Rochester. Now we find out how he fares against a major league lineup.

Davey Martinez insists there are no restrictions on Strasburg tonight, but let’s be honest: The Nationals are going to be careful. They’ll monitor him inning-by-inning, but you’d think they’ll hold him to 90 pitches at most, maybe less, depending on how he looks and feels.

Strasburg will have very few familiar faces around him on the field, the Nats roster having been completely overhauled since the last time he pitched. That group of newcomers will be hoping to do everything they can to help him get through this start with minimal damage.

To make room for Strasburg on the active roster, the Nationals optioned Sam Clay to Triple-A Rochester.

They’ll also try to provide some run support against Marlins left-hander Trevor Rogers, who held them to one run on two hits over six innings April 28 in D.C. but has produced a 6.26 ERA in six starts since.

Update: The Nationals made a late lineup change. Nelson Cruz was scratched, so it'll now be Yadiel Hernandez batting sixth and serving as designated hitter, with Josh Bell and Maikel Franco each moved up a spot in the order.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at MIAMI MARLINS
Where: loanDepot Park
Gametime: 6:40 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB Network (outside D.C. market), MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Indoors

NATIONALS
LF Lane Thomas
2B Ehire Adrianza
RF Juan Soto
DH Nelson Cruz
1B Josh Bell
3B Maikel Franco
DH Yadiel Hernandez
C Riley Adams
SS Luis García
CF Victor Robles

RHP Stephen Strasburg

MARLINS
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
DH Garrett Cooper
1B Jesús Aguilar
RF Avisaíl García
CF Jesús Sánchez
3B Jon Berti
SS Miguel Rojas
C Jacob Stallings
LF Bryan De La Cruz 

LHP Trevor Rogers