Game 83 lineups: Nats vs. Red Sox

It is scorching hot here in Washington, but the local ballclub is anything but hot. The Nationals just went 1-5 on a road trip through Tampa Bay and Philadelphia and have lost 12 of their last 16. They currently sit two games over .500, six games behind the Braves, three games behind the Phillies. And now they get three games against the Red Sox, owners of the second-best winning percentage in baseball.

After all eight active relievers were used during Sunday's 13-inning loss at Citizens Bank Park, the Nats desperately need innings from Max Scherzer tonight. Scherzer has been very good lately, but he has lost his last three decisions despite never allowing more than two runs while his teammates scored exactly zero.

So this lineup is going to have to figure out a way to get the job done against Rick Porcello, Scherzer's old teammate from Detroit. The Nationals have very little experience vs. the Boston right-hander, with the injured Matt Wieters (4-for-19), Mark Reynolds (4-for-16) and Adam Eaton (5-for-13) the only players on the current roster who have taken more than six at-bats against him.

BOSTON RED SOX at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, ESPN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 93 degrees, wind 8 mph in from left field

NATIONALS
RF Adam Eaton
SS Trea Turner
LF Juan Soto
3B Anthony Rendon
CF Bryce Harper
1B Daniel Murphy
2B Wilmer Difo
C Pedro Severino
RHP Max Scherzer

RED SOX
RF Mookie Betts
LF Andrew Benintendi
SS Xander Bogaerts
1B Mitch Moreland
3B Rafael Devers
2B Brock Holt
C Sandy Leon
CF Jackie Bradley Jr.
RHP Rick Porcello