Game 75 lineups: Phillies at Nats

With a glut of healthy outfielders, it was a forgone conclusion that Michael A. Taylor would be the odd man out. Bryce Harper needs to play to get untracked, Juan Soto continues to sizzle and Adam Eaton can be a difference-maker at the top of the Nationals lineup when healthy.

But instead of being the square peg trying to fit into the proverbial round hole, Taylor has made the most of the opportunities he's had, and is making manager Davey Martinez's choices more complicated. But even though Taylor carries a caeer-high 13-game hitting steak into this afternoon's game against the Phillies, he is not in the lineup as the Nationals set out to erase the stench of a 12-2 drubbing last night by the guys from the land of cheesesteaks.

Eaton returns to the lineup in the leadoff spot. Harper will bat second.

Fedde-Throws-White-Sidebar.jpgRight-hander Erick Fedde gets the start for the Nats, and will be making his first career start against the Phillies after facing the Yankees in back-to-back starts. The rookie acquitted himself well against the Bronx Bombers, but the Nationals will need length from Fedde today. He's yet to make it past the sixth inning in three starts this season and has hit that marker only once in six career starts.

The Phillies counter with their ace, right-hander Aaron Nola, whose 8-2 record and 2.55 ERA have him pointed toward a return to Nationals Park next month to pitch for the National League in the All-Star Game. Nola has struggled in 10 career starts against the Nationals, posting a 1-4 record and a 4.50 ERA, but he's 0-1 with a 2.42 ERA in five career outings in D.C.

Of the active Nationals, Harper is batting .471 (8-for-17) with two homers and five RBIs off Nola, while Daniel Murphy is hitting .400 (8-for-20) with a homer and three RBIs. Taylor is 4-for-12 (.333) with a homer and three RBIs, Wilmer Difo is 3-for-10 (.300) and Anthony Rendon is 4-for-17 (.235) with a solo home run.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 80 degrees, wind 4 mph in from right field

NATIONALS
RF Adam Eaton
CF Bryce Harper
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
1B Daniel Murphy
SS Trea Turner
2B Wilmer Difo
C Spencer Kieboom
RHP Erick Fedde

PHILLIES
2B César Hernández
LF Rhys Hoskins
CF Odúbel Herrera
1B Carlos Santana
RF Nick Williams
SS Scott Kingery
3B Maikel Franco
C Jorge Alfaro
RHP Aaron Nola




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