Game 41 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles

The last time we saw Stephen Strasburg on the mound in a big league game, it was obvious he wasn't right. The veteran hurler was throwing fastballs that barely registered 90 mph. His pitches weren't sharp at all. His mechanics were off. His body language suggested he didn't feel right.

Turns out Strasburg was indeed injured, dealing with right shoulder inflammation. The Nationals placed him on the 10-day IL and left him to go through a full rehab process. Tonight, that process finally ends when Strasburg starts against the Orioles, his first big league game appearance in 5 1/2 weeks.

Strasburg was officially activated this afternoon, with Kyle McGowin optioned to Triple-A Rochester to clear a spot for him on the roster.

What should we expect from him? It's hard to say with any certainty. He built up to 75 pitches over 4 1/3 innings in a rehab start Sunday for Rochester, so you'd think he'd be good for at least that much (and possibly a bit more) workload tonight. Keep an eye on the radar gun, though, and of course on Strasburg's body language, which often tells you everything you need to know.

The Nationals need Strasburg to be sharp enough to give them a chance. And then they need their lineup to produce not just in one inning but several innings against Orioles right-hander Jorge López, the 28-year-old journeyman who enters with a 6.35 ERA and 1.412 WHIP in eight starts and who threw a whopping 71 pitches in two innings last time out against the Yankees.

Victor Robles, as expected, is out of the Nats lineup again, still dealing with the right ankle injury he suffered Wednesday night in Chicago. So it's Andrew Stevenson again in center field, batting ninth.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Clear, 82 degrees, wind 8 mph out to left field

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
LF Kyle Schwarber
3B Starlin Castro
2B Josh Harrison
C Yan Gomes
RHP Stephen Strasburg
CF Andrew Stevenson

ORIOLES
CF Cedric Mullins
LF Austin Hays
1B Trey Mancini
RF Anthony Santander
SS Freddy Galvis
3B Maikel Franco
2B Stevie Wilkerson
C Chance Sisco
RHP Jorge López