Game 78: Nats at Rays

The Nationals seek their fifth straight series win, their sixth straight road series win, when they face the Rays on this Father's Day

The Nationals today have an opportunity to win their fifth straight series, their sixth straight road series. Saturday’s 4-3 win over the Rays required 6 1/3 strong innings out of the bullpen, plus clutch homers from CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews. It also included a fantastic-but-painful catch by Jacob Young, who is not in today’s lineup but should be OK.

With Young sitting, Crews will get another start in center field, flanked by Daylen Lile and James Wood. That makes José Tena the DH against right-hander Nick Martinez, but Blake Butera will be poised to go to his bench if and when Tampa Bay goes to a lefty reliever.

Speaking of lefties … Andrew Alvarez gets the start this afternoon. Butera may need to push his young starter a bit today, because both of his long men (Mitchell Parker, Brad Lord) pitched multiple innings Saturday. But even if Alvarez only goes five innings, the bullpen should be in decent enough shape to finish this one out.

Hope everyone enjoys a happy Father’s Day, whether that includes baseball, golf, soccer, all of the above or none of the above. I’m not in St. Petersburg, but I will have a wrapup of the entire weekend series later this evening, so please be on the lookout for that.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at TAMPA BAY RAYS
Where: Tropicana Field
Gametime: 1:40 p.m. EDT
TV: Nationals TV (channel listings)
Radio: 106.7 FM
Weather: Indoors

NATIONALS
RF James Wood
1B Luis García Jr.
3B Curtis Mead
SS CJ Abrams
LF Daylen Lile
CF Dylan Crews
DH José Tena
C Drew Millas
2B Nasim Nuñez

LHP Andrew Alvarez

RAYS
DH Yandy Diaz
CF Jonny DeLuca
1B Jonathan Aranda
3B Junior Caminero
RF Ryan Vilade
2B Ben Williamson
LF Chandler Simpson
C Nick Fortes
SS Taylor Walls

RHP Nick Martinez