Game 76 lineups: Nats at Brewers

MILWAUKEE - The Nationals will turn to Tanner Roark to halt a season-high seven-game losing streak today, while awaiting further word on the upper back strain that caused scheduled starter Stephen Strasburg to be scratched from his second assignment in a week.

The current skid is the Nats' longest since 2009. A 2-7 road trip isn't what they expected when this trek began 10 days ago in San Diego.

Roark has worked at least six innings in six of his past seven starts, so the right-hander should be able to give the Nationals some length and preserve a bullpen that threw five innings in yesterday's loss. But he's coming off a loss, taking the defeat on June 21 at the Dodgers, despite throwing 7 1/3 innings and allowing three runs on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts.

In three career games, including two starts, against the Brewers, Roark is 1-0 with a 3.52 ERA. In one start at Miller Park, he posted a 6.75 ERA without a decision. The current barrel of Brewers carries a .130/.270/.303 slash line against Roark, most of the damage coming from Ryan Braun, who has lifetime .429/.500/.714 line in seven at-bats versus the righty.

Washington will face right-hander Jimmy Nelson, who is 0-3 in four starts since his last victory on May 29 against the Reds. Nelson hasn't worked more than 5 1/3 innings in any of his June starts, but his most recent outing was a bit better. On June 21 at Oakland, he yielded a run on six hits over five innings, with a walk and two strikeouts.

The Nats have traditionally hit Nelson well, albeit in limited action. Current Nats slash .333/.383/.548 off him. Bryce Harper and Wilson Ramos have homered off Nelson, but Ramos is scheduled to get the day off today, with Jose Lobaton slated to catch Roark. Nelson is 1-1 with a 7.84 ERA in two career starts against Washington.

Ryan Zimmerman and Danny Espinosa also get the day off, with Clint Robinson starting at first base and Stephen Drew at shortstop.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Where: Miller Park, Milwaukee
Gametime: 2:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, XM 869, MLB.com
Weather: Cloudy, 82 degrees, 9 mph winds in from center field

NATIONALS (43-32)
CF Ben Revere
LF Jayson Werth
RF Bryce Harper
2B Daniel Murphy
3B Anthony Rendon
1B Clint Robinson
SS Stephen Drew
C Jose Lobaton
RHP Tanner Roark

BREWERS (34-40)
SS Jonathan Villar
2B Scooter Gennett
LF Ryan Braun
C Jonathan Lucroy
1B Chris Carter
CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis
3B Aaron Hill
RF Ramon Flores
RHP Jimmy Nelson