Game 130 lineups: Nats vs. Marlins (Werth and Scherzer return)

The Nationals welcome back two of their regulars tonight in the series opener against the Marlins. Jayson Werth has been activated from the 60-day disabled list to start tonight, batting seventh and playing right field, after missing 75 games with a left foot contusion. And right-handed ace Max Scherzer will make his first start since Aug. 13. He was on the 10-day DL with a neck strain.

Werth was batting .262 with with eight home runs and 18 RBIs before fouling a ball off his foot in Oakland. In six rehab games (three each with Single-A Potomac and Triple-A Syracuse), Werth went 3-for-13 with a double, a run and four walks.

Two of Scherzer's last three starts have been against the Marlins. The Aug. 1 matchup at Marlins Park was when the neck problem first came up. In that game, Scherzer pitched one inning and hit a three-run homer, then left after one warmup pitch to begin the bottom of the second.

Scherzer is 12-5 with a 2.25 ERA in 24 starts over 160 1/3 innings. He faces off against right-hander José Ureña, who is also 12-5 with a 3.68 ERA in 21 starts (27 games) over 129 2/3 frames.

Scherzer will need to contend with Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton, who has hit 50 homers. Stanton has hit at least one homer in 11 of his last 17 games. Scherzer gives up homers, already 19 this season, although only six to right-handed hitters.

Incidentally, Players Weekend is over, but Scherzer's nickname is "Blue Eye" and Stanton's is "Cruz."

To make room for Werth and Scherzer, outfielders Rafael Bautista and Andrew Stevenson were optioned to Syracuse. Additionally, infielder Stephen Drew (left abdominal strain) was transferred to the 60-day DL.

MIAMI MARLINS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, XM 184/869, MLB.com
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 73 degrees, wind 11 mph out to right field

NATIONALS (78-51)
LF Howie Kendrick
CF Michael A. Taylor
2B Daniel Murphy
1B Ryan Zimmerman
3B Anthony Rendon
C Matt Wieters
RF Jayson Werth
SS Wilmer Difo
RHP Max Scherzer

MARLINS (66-63)
2B Dee Gordon
RF Giancarlo Stanton
CF Christian Yelich
LF Marcell Ozuna
C J.T. Realmuto
3B Derek Dietrich
1B Tómas Telis
SS Miguel Rojas
RHP José Ureña