Game 160 Lineups: Nats vs. Phillies

It wasn’t an encouraging end to what seemed like an encouraging season for the Nationals. They have lost nine of their last 10 and would now need to beat the Phillies this weekend to reach 72 wins and surpass last year’s total. What are the chances of that happening? Probably not great, especially with Philadelphia still trying to challenge the Dodgers for home-field advantage in the National League playoffs. Los Angeles leads by one game tonight, but the Phillies have the tiebreaker in hand.

Patrick Corbin made his last start for the Nats on Thursday, and tonight Trevor Williams made what may or may not be his last start. The right-hander’s contract is expiring, but considering how well he hits (when healthy), there’s a good case for bringing him back on a modest contract, either as the No. 5 starter or as a backup. First things first: He needs to do with the Phillies what he’s done with so many other lineups this year and keep them in the stadium and off the scoreboard.

The Nationals are really struggling to score runs at the moment and the challenge doesn’t get any easier tonight against Ranger Suárez. The left-hander owns a 3.15 ERA and 1.157 WHIP this season. He faced the Nats only once this year, on April 6, and allowed two runs over six innings in the win.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Where: Nationals Park
Playing time: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 88.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Rain, 74 degrees, wind 14 mph out of right field

Nationals
RF Dylan Crews
LF James Wood
1B Juan Yepez
C Keibert Ruiz
DH Stone Garrett
2B Luis Garcia Jr.
3B Ildemaro Vargas
CF Jacob Young
SS Nasim Nunez

RHP Trevor Williams

PHILLIES
DH Kyle Schwarber
SS Trea Turner
1B Bryce Harper
RF Nick Castellanos
3B Alec Bohm
2B Bryson Stott
CJT Realmuto
CF Brandon Marsh
LF Austin Hays

LHP Ranger Suarez