Nats hoping Stephen Strasburg continues dominant form (with lineups)

The Nationals begin a four-game set in San Francisco needing a win to remain 3 1/2 games back of the Mets, who finished off a sweep of the Rockies earlier today.

Stephen Strasburg aims to end the Nats' two-game losing streak. The right-hander returned from the disabled list to spin seven dazzling innings last Saturday night, limiting the Rockies to one run on just three hits while striking out 12 without issuing a walk.

Strasburg strained his left oblique during a start against the Giants on July 4 at Nationals Park, landing on the disabled list the following day. Before exiting that outing, Strasburg held San Francisco scoreless over 3 2/3 innings, yielding one hit with two walks and three strikeouts.

Strasburg was in command five days ago, reaching 98 mph with his fastball and buckling knees with his filthy curveball.

"That's the best I've seen Stephen pitch since coming here, I think," Jayson Werth said. "That was good to see, to have him back healthy."

Meanwhile, Werth's struggles continue since returning from the DL on July 28 after missing 61 games with a fractured left wrist. The veteran left fielder is slashing a lowly .151/.175/.264 with one homer, six RBIs, 13 strikeouts and two walks in his last 15 games.

The Giants enter tonight's action losers in five of their last six, dropping five games out of the wild card race in the NL.

For the Nationals:
3B Yunel Escobar
2B Anthony Rendon
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Jayson Werth
SS Ian Desmond
C Wilson Ramos
CF Michael A. Taylor
RHP Stephen Strasburg

For the Giants:
CF Gregor Blanco
3B Matt Duffy
1B Brandon Belt
C Buster Posey
RF Hunter Pence
SS Brandon Crawford
LF Justin Maxwell
2B Kelby Tomlinson
RHP Ryan Vogelsong