The Nationals look to bounce back from the series-opening loss to the Cubs on Friday night behind one of their top shutdown starters in Stephen Strasburg.
Second baseman Brian Dozier said the Nats cannot let the 14-6 score demoralize them or lessen their drive to play better tonight. It is still just one loss, and the Nats must to turn the page, as the age-old cliché goes.
"You have to," Dozier said. "You always do in these type of losses. It got out of hand but at the same time, they played really good. Tip your hat and move on, another game tomorrow. We got a lot more of them.
"There's no blaming any kind of thing or anybody. We're just not getting the job done. We preach 'Got to win the first game.' But at the same time, we haven't done a good job of that. There's no better way to fix that than to start winning them. You can't pinpoint anything. You move on. You still got a chance to beat a really good team and take a series from them. That starts tomorrow."
Strasburg (3-3, 3.63 ERA) is 1-1, and has a 2.23 ERA, with 47 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings over six career starts against the Cubs. Cubs left-hander Jon Lester (3-1, 1.16) allowed nine runs (eight earned) and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings versus the Nats on Aug. 11, 2018.
Right-hander Justin Miller has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right rotator cuff strain, and right-hander Tanner Rainey has been recalled. Victor Robles is a little bit sore from getting hit by a pitch Friday. He will not start, but is available to pinch-hit.
CHICAGO CUBS at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:15 p.m. EDT
TV: FOX
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Isolated thunderstorms, 76 degrees, 35 percent chance of precipitation, wind 8 mph left field to first base
NATIONALS (18-26)
SS Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
3B Anthony Rendon
1B Howie Kendrick
LF Juan Soto
2B Brian Dozier
C Yan Gomes
CF Michael A. Taylor
RHP Stephen Strasburg
CUBS (25-16)
LF Kyle Schwarber
RF Kris Bryant
1B Anthony Rizzo
SS Javier Báez
C Wilson Contreras
CF Jason Heyward
2B Addison Russell
3B David Bote
LHP Jon Lester
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