There are two more games in the Washington Nationals 2011 campaign and though they have already clinched their spot in the standings and they will play no other part than being the last two games of the season, they are big ones in the minds of the team and Washington fans. If the Nationals can win Tuesday and Wednesday's games they will have finished with an above .500 record for the first time in their history since baseball returned to D.C. in 2005.
To do that, they will have to take two more from the NL East rival Florida Marlins at Sun Life Stadium. Beating the Marlins, let alone in their own park has not been an easy task for the Nationals in recent seasons, but the Nationals are screeching towards the 2011 finish line on fire and are winners of nine straight road games. If Nationals starter John Lannan (10-13, 3.73 ERA) and the Army of the Potomac can win Tuesday night, they will have had the most consecutive road wins in franchise history since 1994. Marlins pitcher Javier Vazquez (12-11, 3.77 ERA) will be opposing the Nats and will be looking to sour the end of the season for Washington.
Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was given the night off as rookie Steve Lombardozzi takes his place at third and outfielder Jayson Werth moves to Zimmerman's third spot in the line up.
Nationals Line Up
Ian Desmond - SS
Roger Bernadina - RF
Jayson Werth - CF
Michael Morse - LF
Danny Espinosa - 2B
Chris Marrero - 1B
Wilson Ramos - C
Steve Lombardozzi - 3B
John Lannan - SP