Game 12 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles

The Nationals must make a quick turnaround as they look to snap a three-game skid and avoid a sweep at the hands of the Orioles with an early Sunday afternoon series finale on the docket today at Nats Park.

And the Nats (4-7) could not ask for a better pitcher to be their stopper, right-hander Stephen Strasburg (0-0), making his season debut after recovering from a right wrist injury that scratched his scheduled first start way back on July 25.

The Nats need a spark, because at the start of play today they reside in last place in the National League East.

It is the first time the Nats have had last place in their division all to themselves this late in the season since April 27, 2015, when they began that campaign 7-13. Their 33 runs scored are the worst in the major leagues. The Cardinals have scored only 18 runs, but that is mainly because they have played only five games this season due to coronavirus postponements.

Strasburg's last meaningful outing was the exhibition win over the Orioles on July 20 in Baltimore. He threw five shutout innings, allowing one run on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts in the Nats' 4-2 victory. Anthony Santander and Chris Davis connected on doubles, but the Birds were never able to enjoy a big inning. Strasburg fired 81 pitches, 52 for strikes.

Manager Davey Martinez hopes to get Strasburg up to 70 to 80 pitches today in his season debut. Strasburg threw a sim game four days ago in which reached 32 pitches, and the skipper deemed him good to go.

The Orioles (7-7) counter with right-hander Asher Wojciechowski (0-2, 5.40 ERA). Last year, Matt Adams, Kurt Suzuki and Juan Soto hit homers off of Wojciechowski. Soto went 2-for-5, and former Nats second baseman Brian Dozier had three hits.

Second baseman Starlin Castro leads the Nats with 14 hits and a .359 batting average (14-for-39) through 11 games. His .359 average is fifth in the National League.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 12:35 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 84 degrees, 20 percent chance of rain, wind 5 mph in from center field

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
2B Starlin Castro
LF Juan Soto
1B Asdrúbal Cabrera
DH Eric Thames
3B Carter Kieboom
C Yan Gomes
CF Michael A. Taylor

RHP Stephen Strasburg

ORIOLES
2B Hanser Alberto
RF Anthony Santander
1B Renato Núñez
3B Rio Ruiz
LF Dwight Smith Jr.
CF Austin Hays
DH Chance Sisco
SS Pat Valaika
C Bryan Holaday

RHP Asher Wojciechowski