World Series Game 6 lineups: Nats at Astros

HOUSTON - They've played 177 games, won 103 of them, three of those when staring elimination in the face. They'll play Game 178 tonight, and the only way they can ensure there will be a Game 179 is to win.

Is this the biggest game in Nationals history? Well, yeah.

The Nats themselves, of course, will insist they can't think of it that way. They've specialized all year long in focusing on the daily task at hand and ignoring the larger significance. It's worked up until now. Might as well stick with it and just try to go 1-0 today, right?

To that end, Davey Martinez is sticking with the lineup he used here last week, the lineup that produced 12 runs in Game 2, the first four off Justin Verlander, who starts tonight. So it's Howie Kendrick as DH, Asdrúbal Cabrera at second base and Ryan Zimmerman at first base. There is one change, at least from the Game 2 lineup: Kurt Suzuki remains out with a hip flexor strain, so it's Yan Gomes catching Stephen Strasburg and batting ninth.

Strasburg, as you know, has been electric this postseason. He's already gone 4-0 in five appearances, and if he wins tonight he'd be the first pitcher ever to go 5-0 in a single postseason. The right-hander is facing a stiff challenge, of course, in the Astros lineup, which remains as potent as ever.

Oh, and FYI: Max Scherzer just threw pitches off flat ground in left field for about 10 minutes, gave bullpen catcher Octavio Martinez a high five and stalked back to the dugout like a man who believes he'll be able to pitch Game 7 tomorrow night. All the Nationals have to do now: Make sure there is a Game 7.

Buckle up.

WORLD SERIES - GAME 6
WASHINGTON NATIONALS at HOUSTON ASTROS
Where: Minute Maid Park
Gametime: 8:07 p.m. EDT
TV: FOX
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Indoors

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
DH Howie Kendrick
2B Asdrúbal Cabrera
1B Ryan Zimmerman
CF Victor Robles
C Yan Gomes

RHP Stephen Strasburg

ASTROS
CF George Springer
2B Jose Altuve
LF Michael Brantley
3B Alex Bregman
1B Yuli Gurriel
DH Yordan Alvarez
SS Carlos Correa
C Robinson Chirinos
RF Josh Reddick

RHP Justin Verlander