Kieboom update, lineup notes and Corbin's final start of season

Third baseman Carter Kieboom said his left wrist is improving, but he understands it was the smart move for the Nationals to place him on the injured list for the remainder of the season. Three days ago, Kieboom got hit by the Phillies' Zack Wheeler's sinker and suffered a left wrist contusion.

"Grip strength is where my problem is right now," Kieboom said today on a pregame Zoom call. "Swelling is still a little bit there. I think we are going to get some more opinions at it, some more books at it, some different screens these next few days and over the weekend, and see where we are at with that. Overall it feels better. But definitely not worth risking or maybe making it worse this last series."

With the Nationals out of the playoff race, manager Davey Martinez has the chance to see a lot of different lineup combinations over the final four games against the Mets. But a lot of the combinations are set out of necessity with the team enduring so many injuries late in the season. Add to that Trea Turner is a bit banged up and Martinez would like to rest Asdrúbal Cabrera. Turner is in the lineup tonight.

Juan Soto is still playing right field, but Jake Noll is at first base and Josh Harrison will play third today. Kurt Suzuki is the designated hitter. Yadiel Hernández will get some playing time.

"I want to play some of these guys, get them some at-bats and just watch them play these last four days," Martinez said. "We've had some guys that have played - and we appreciate them very much - that have played beat up, Cabrera being one of them. So I told him he could come in and pinch-hit for us the next couple days, but I kind of want to keep him off his feet, maybe DH him one day, but we will see how he feels.

"I want to give some of these younger guys a chance. (Andrew) Stevenson has done well. I want to see Jake swing the bat a little bit. Yadiel, get a chance to get in there and play. These guys are going to get opportunity the next four days to go out there and get some at-bats and just play and go have fun."

Left-hander Patrick Corbin will make his final start of the season tonight. Despite a 2-6 record this season, Martinez knows one of the heroes of last year's World Series title run will rebound in 2021.

"Patrick is Patrick. He has done well, he really has," Martinez said. "He's going to go out there today and compete. After today, I will talk to him tomorrow and ask him what he plans on this winter, but I think all our starters, this extra month we are going to get in October is going to help them. We could do some different things strength-wise to get them built up again and get them ready for spring training."

Corbin has given up 75 hits in 10 starts, including 32 in his last three outings. The skipper said Corbin has not been able to locate as well as he was used to during a few starts this season.

"He struggled with his location at times," Martinez said. "He has mentioned that. He said his sinker sometimes doesn't sink. It just flattened out. It's something that he knows going into next year. He's going to be fine. His slider is his go-to pitch. He threw it, he threw it well. I think the rest with him is going to help him out a lot."

And remembering some of last year's heroic appearances out by Corbin in the postseason, Martinez said with a smile, "You won't see him coming out of the bullpen these next four days, by the way."