Game 77 lineups: Nats at Rays

St. PETERSBURG, FLA. - The Nationals have headed south to begin a six-game road trip, but only the first two games are in the Sunshine State.

The Nats and the Rays are coming off of dramatic late-inning victories as they prepare to do battle tonight for the second series meeting this season. The Rays walked off the Yankees 7-6 in the 12th inning on recently recalled Jake Bauers' solo shot. The Nats came back from a 6-2 deficit to stun the Phillies 8-6 on three doubles by Bryce Harper and an eighth-inning two-run single by Daniel Murphy.

At least the Nats won't have to contend with any possibility of a rain delay inside climate-controlled Tropicana Field. Of course, last night's 38-minute delay wasn't so bad, except for the fact that the club did not leave D.C. until 2 a.m. Eastern time, arriving at the team hotel around 5:30 a.m.

The Nats send left-hander Gio Gonzalez (6-4, 3.08 ERA) to the hill against Rays left-hander Blake Snell (9-4, 2.48 ERA).

The Nats are 9-6 against the American League East this season and swept a short two-game set with the Rays, winning 4-2 and 11-2 at Nats Park in early June in wins for Max Scherzer and Tanner Roark. Ironically, it was the last wins for each pitcher season.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at TAMPA BAY RAYS
Where: Tropicana Field
Gametime: 7:10 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Indoors, 72 degrees

NATIONALS

SS Trea Turner
RF Bryce Harper
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
CF Michael A. Taylor
1B Mark Reynolds
2B Wilmer Difo
C Pedro Severino
DH Adam Eaton

LHP Gio Gonzalez

RAYS

CF Kevin Keiermaier
3B Matt Duffy
LF Daniel Robertson
C Wilson Ramos
DH C.J. Cron
1B Jake Bauers
RF Carlos Gómez
SS Adeiny Hechavarria
2B Willy Adames

LHP Blake Snell