Game 67 lineups: Nats at Astros

HOUSTON – Tonight is the 15th scheduled game of a stretch that has seen the Nationals play nothing but contenders, including some of the best teams in baseball. It promised to be a difficult stretch, and it most certainly has proven to be that. They enter tonight’s finale at Minute Maid Park with a 3-10 record against the Dodgers, Phillies, Diamondbacks, Braves and Astros. (They of course didn't play one game vs. Arizona due to hazardous air quality in D.C.)

The schedule eases up now, but before that happens the Nats would love to emerge from this series with at least one win over the defending World Series champions. They’ll need to score some runs prior to the top of the ninth, you’d think, but the challenge again isn’t an easy one facing Christian Javier. The 26-year-old right-hander is 7-1 with a 3.13 ERA in 13 starts, though he did give up four runs on seven hits and three walks during a five-inning no-decision against the Guardians last week.

As was the case for Josiah Gray on Wednesday night, MacKenzie Gore faces his own challenge in the form of a potent Houston lineup that gets shortstop Jeremy Peña back tonight. Gore had a rough one in his last start in Atlanta, giving up five runs in five innings, including a pair of homers. He’ll have to keep an Astros team that has launched six homers so far in this series in the park tonight.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at HOUSTON ASTROS
Where: Minute Maid Park
Gametime: 8:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Indoors

NATIONALS
RF Lane Thomas
2B Luis García
3B Jeimer Candelario
DH Corey Dickerson
C Keibert Ruiz
1B Dominic Smith
LF Stone Garrett
SS CJ Abrams
CF Alex Call

LHP MacKenzie Gore

ASTROS
LF Chas McCormick
2B Jose Altuve
3B Alex Bregman
RF Kyle Tucker
1B José Abreu
SS Jeremy Peña
DH Corey Julks
CF Jake Meyers
C Martin Maldonado

RHP Christian Javier