Game 63 lineups: Nats vs. Pirates

After going 3-3 against the two teams with the best records in the majors at the time (the Rays and Giants), the Nationals now host one of the worst teams in the majors the next three nights. And you've got to believe they believe they need to win at least two, if not all three, of these games.

That's easier said than done, of course, especially with a lineup that has been so unproductive most of the time. Perhaps manager Davey Martinez found something over the weekend, though, with his new leadoff hitter. Kyle Schwarber hit three homers from the No. 1 spot in the lineup against the Giants, and he's back in that spot again for tonight's series opener on South Capitol Street against Pittsburgh right-hander JT Brubaker.

Jon Lester gets the start, hoping to continue what the rest of the Nationals rotation did all weekend against the Giants, though that might be an exceptionally tall task, given the fact no starters gave up any runs in four games. The lefty will need to be in the strike zone, specifically down in the strike zone, seeking weak contact. And he'll need to try to keep the pitch count down so he can go a bit deeper in the game.

That said, the Nationals bullpen should be in pretty good shape after Joe Ross' eight-inning start Sunday. So even if Lester can't provide that much length tonight, it may not be a disaster.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Chance of storms late, 84 degrees, wind 6 mph out to left field

NATIONALS
LF Kyle Schwarber
SS Trea Turner
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
2B Josh Harrison
C Yan Gomes
3B Starlin Castro
CF Victor Robles
LHP Jon Lester

PIRATES
2B Adam Frazier
3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
CF Brian Reynolds
C Jacob Stallings
RF Phillip Evans
SS Kevin Newman
1B Erik Gonzalez
LF Ka'ai Tom
RHP JT Brubaker