Game 9 lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals (Drew placed on DL)

The Nationals today send Max Scherzer to the mound with a chance to sweep the Cardinals. Now, hit the rewind button 48 hours and ask yourself how that statement would've sounded to you at the time.

The Nats have righted the ship a bit here the last two nights, riding a ridiculously productive lineup to a pair of blowout wins and now have their ace pitching this afternoon's series finale. It's been a nice bounceback after a rough weekend in Philadelphia.

Scherzer will be facing his hometown team, hoping to build off his strong season debut and get himself over the 100-pitch hump for the first time this year. He'll be facing right-hander Mike Leake of the Cardinals.

One roster move to announce: The Nationals, as expected, placed Stephen Drew on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring. Running thin on shortstops, they have purchased the contract of Grant Green from Triple-A Syracuse. Green, 29, has 127 games of major league experience with the A's, Angels and Giants, and can play shortstop, which is the key to his selection as the guy to take Drew's roster spot ...

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, XM 184, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 74 degrees, wind 10 mph left field to right field

NATIONALS (5-3)
CF Adam Eaton
3B Anthony Rendon
RF Bryce Harper
2B Daniel Murphy
1B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Jayson Werth
C Matt Wieters
SS Wilmer Difo
RHP Max Scherzer

CARDINALS (2-6)
CF Dexter Fowler
SS Greg Garcia
1B Matt Carpenter
RF Stephen Piscotty
LF Matt Adams
3B Jedd Gyorko
2B Kolten Wong
C Eric Fryer
RHP Mike Leake