Game 43 lineups: Nats vs. Orioles

The Nationals still have their issues in the big picture, but they still have a chance to sweep a series today. And that's nothing to scoff at. At this point, they've got to seize any opportunity they get, so a win today over the Orioles would be a welcome development. (It also would give them a 20-23 record, making another 19-31 start mathematically impossible this season. Oh, and if you didn't know, today is the two-year anniversary of the Nats falling to 19-31 after getting swept by the Mets. Good times.)

Davey Martinez will hope the bats can stay hot this afternoon against Matt Harvey, the former Mets ace who has been through a lot since those days but has re-emerged in the Baltimore rotation this season.

The Nationals manager also could really use some quality innings from Patrick Corbin after watching Jon Lester last only four innings Saturday. The bullpen has been taxed pretty good during this long stretch of 13 games in 13 days, so some length from a starter would be welcome.

For the fourth straight day, Victor Robles is not in the lineup. There was some thought the Nats might need to place him on the injured list today if his sprained ankle hadn't healed enough, but with an off-day Monday, it looks like they're going to hold off on that decision for now and hope he might be good to go Tuesday when the Reds come to town.

One other lineup tweak: Alex Avila will catch Corbin for the first time this season, with Yan Gomes getting the day off after catching a long game Saturday. Avila and Corbin did work together as teammates in Arizona in 2018, so they're not unfamiliar with each other.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Sunny, 89 degrees, wind 13 mph left field to right field

NATIONALS
SS Trea Turner
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
LF Kyle Schwarber
3B Starlin Castro
2B Josh Harrison
C Alex Avila
CF Andrew Stevenson
LHP Patrick Corbin

ORIOLES
CF Austin Hays
SS Freddy Galvis
1B Trey Mancini
RF Anthony Santander
C Pedro Severino
3B Maikel Franco
LF Ryan Mountcastle
2B Pat Valaika
RHP Matt Harvey