Game 75 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

This week's series against the Phillies was big. This weekend's series against the Braves might be even bigger. The Nationals are feeling good about themselves after sweeping Philadelphia and winning 17 of 24. But now they face the hottest team in the majors, the one now comfortably in first place in the National League East.

The good news: The Nats are 2-0 against the Braves this season, having swept a quick series at SunTrust Park three weeks ago. But they're facing a bit of a different team this weekend, and they're facing a brand-new pitcher tonight in Dallas Keuchel. The veteran left-hander is making his Braves debut, but he's no stranger to many members of the Nationals lineup, both from previous matchups when he pitched for the Astros and from spring training in West Palm Beach.

In fact, check out these career numbers from these guys against Keuchel: Howie Kendrick (8-for-21, homer), Yan Gomes (7-for-19), Brian Dozier (6-for-12, homer), Anthony Rendon (2-for-4, two doubles). So all of those guys are playing tonight, and in a different arrangement than normal.

Stephen Strasburg, meanwhile, faces a stiff challenge in an Atlanta lineup that is stacked from top to bottom. Everybody has an OPS+ of at least 101; in other words, everybody is considered above-average. All of that should make for quite a compelling matchup tonight.

ATLANTA BRAVES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 79 degrees, wind 15 mph left field to right field

NATIONALS (36-38)
SS Trea Turner
LF Juan Soto
3B Anthony Rendon
1B Howie Kendrick
2B Brian Dozier
RF Victor Robles
CF Michael A. Taylor
C Yan Gomes
RHP Stephen Strasburg

BRAVES (44-31)
CF Ronald Acuña Jr.
SS Dansby Swanson
1B Freddie Freeman
3B Josh Donaldson
RF Nick Markakis
LF Austin Riley
C Brian McCann
2B Ozzie Albies
LHP Dallas Keuchel