The Washington Nationals are riding a wave of momentum coming into Thursday night's game at Nationals Park against the St. Louis Cardinals. It is the third and final game of the current series between the two teams and it is the Nationals that have the advantage as they are guaranteed to win the series after completing a rally for a victory on Tuesday night and a complete rout of the Red Birds on Wednesday. The Nationals will try to go for the three game sweep and a six-game win streak before Interleague play begins on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles.
Southpaw John Lannan (4-5, 3.60 ERA) will take the mound for the Nationals against right-hander Kyle Lohse (7-3, 2.67 ERA). Lannan has only given up two runs in the past 26 1/3 innings he has pitched and beat the Cardinals in April giving up only two runs to the hefty St. Louis line-up. Lannan will have his hands full tonight as the Cardinals Matt Holliday returns to the line-up after going on the DL with a strained left quadriceps. Pack Holliday with Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman and that is a line-up with some punch, but Nationals starters have done a decent job this series neutralizing the big guns from St. Louis.
The Nationals will go with a similar line-up they used in the 10-0 rout of the Cardinals on Wednesday night. Catcher Wilson Ramos will be behind the plate while a 3-4-5 of Ryan Zimmerman, Laynce Nix and Michael Morse isn't to be taken lightly.
First pitch is at 7:05 P.M. The weather forecast says there is a high chance of rain sometime during the night so if you are headed out to the Park, it would be best to check the weather service and act/dress appropriately.
Nationals:
Jayson Werth – RF
Roger Bernadina – CF
Ryan Zimmerman – 3B
Laynce Nix – LF
Michael Morse – 1B
Danny Espinosa – 2B
Wilson Ramos – C
John Lannan – P
Ian Desmond – SS