Game 91 lineups: Nats vs. Braves

The National League East has been good to the Nationals through much of their history. They won four division titles between 2012-17 and often beat up on their lesser rivals. That is no longer the case, though. The narrative has completely flipped on its head, and right now the last thing the Nats want to be doing is facing a fellow NL East opponent.

Unfortunately, they’re about to open a four-game series with the Braves. The same Braves team that just swept them at Truist Park last weekend. The same Braves team that swept them last month at Nationals Park. The same Braves team that along with its NL East counterparts has gone a collective 33-7 against the Nationals this season.

Who are the Nats sending to the mound tonight in hopes of reversing that trend? That would be Aníbal Sánchez, the 38-year-old right-hander making his first major league start in two years. It’s been a long road back for Sánchez, who struggled in 2020, sat out 2021 and then signed a minor league deal with the Nationals this spring, only to spend the next 3 1/2 months on the injured list with a cervical nerve impingement. What can be expected of him tonight against a tough Atlanta lineup? Probably best to set the expectation bar low.

Kyle Wright gets the start for the Braves, his second straight against the Nats. Five days ago, he held them to three runs on eight hits while pitching into the eighth inning. He did surrender two home runs in that game: one to Juan Soto, the other to Yadiel Hernandez.

ATLANTA BRAVES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Chance of storms, 83 degrees, wind 5 mph out to center field

NATIONALS
SS Luis García
1B Josh Bell
RF Juan Soto
DH Nelson Cruz
LF Yadiel Hernandez
C Keibert Ruiz
2B César Hernández
3B Maikel Franco
CF Lane Thomas

RHP Aníbal Sánchez

BRAVES
RF Ronald Acuña Jr.
SS Dansby Swanson
1B Matt Olson
3B Austin Riley
LF Eddie Rosario
C Travis d’Arnaud
DH Marcell Ozuna
2B Robinson Canó
CF Michael Harris II

RH Kyle Wright