NLDS Game 2 lineups: Nats at Dodgers

LOS ANGELES - If the Nationals are going to win tonight and even up this best-of-five series, they're going to have to score runs. That sounds like a "no, duh" statement, but it's a simple fact. They were shut out Thursday night in Game 1, and they really didn't hit much at all in their wild card win Tuesday night. They just need to find a way to put more runners on base, and then find a way to get as many of those runners as possible across the plate.

That won't be an easy task against Clayton Kershaw, but the good news is they've got several guys in their lineup who have had success against the star lefty. Ryan Zimmerman is 12-for-34 with a homer, so he's starting at first base tonight. Trea Turner is 6-for-16 with a double, and he's obviously leading off. Howie Kendrick is 6-for-21, so he's staying in the lineup but moving to second base. Anthony Rendon is 7-for-25 with three walks, so he's of course batting third as always.

For the Nationals to win, they'll also need another lights-out performance from Stephen Strasburg. The right-hander has a growing postseason resume that ranks among the best ever: 0.41 ERA and 0.909 WHIP in 22 innings with 28 strikeouts. He'll need to be really good again tonight, and he'll need to give them as much length as he's got after his 34-pitch relief appearance Tuesday night.

After that, it's up to the Nats bullpen to hang on late. You've got to assume both Sean Doolittle and Daniel Hudson are pitching tonight, no matter what. Whether Davey Martinez can get by with only those guys depends on how far Strasburg goes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES - GAME 2
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Where: Dodger Stadium
Gametime: 9:37 p.m. EDT
TV: TBS, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 71 degrees, wind 7 mph out to center field

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
2B Howie Kendrick
1B Ryan Zimmerman
C Kurt Suzuki
CF Victor Robles
RHP Stephen Strasburg

DODGERS
RF Joc Pederson
3B Justin Turner
LF A.J. Pollock
CF Cody Bellinger
1B Max Muncy
C Will Smith
SS Corey Seager
2B Gavin Lux
LHP Clayton Kershaw