Game 116 lineups: Nats at Giants

SAN FRANCISCO – It’s a beautiful day by the bay. Will it be beautiful for a Nationals lineup that has been ice-cold at the plate?

The Nats have been shut out in back-to-back games, and even when you add Wednesday’s win over the Athletics to the mix, they’ve still scored only two runs on 11 hits and two walks over their last 27 innings. That simply won’t cut it. And now they face a quick turnaround to a day game against an opposing left-hander. That’s pretty much been a recipe for disaster this season: The team OPS in day games against lefties: .563, tied with the Rangers for worst in the majors. (Against righties, it at least goes up to .676.)

Today’s lineup is once again missing Luis García Jr., whose back tightened up Friday during batting practice. Hopefully we’ll get an update on his status shortly. It’ll be up to the rest of the group – most notably James Wood and CJ Abrams – to get something going against the Giants’ Carson Whisenhunt, a 24-year-old making his third career start.

Brad Lord gets the ball for the Nationals, looking to continue what he’s done since rejoining the rotation. In three starts, the rookie right-hander has a 3.21 ERA, issuing only three walks over 14 innings. And after throwing 92 pitches last time out, he should be good to reach the 100 mark if needed today, meaning he’s fully stretched out as a starter now.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Where: Oracle Park

Gametime: 4:05 p.m. EDT

TV: MASN2, MLB.tv

Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com

Weather: Mostly sunny, 69 degrees, wind 12 mph out to center field

NATIONALS

LF James WoodSS CJ Abrams2B Paul DeJong1B Josh BellC Riley AdamsDH Drew MillasRF Daylen Lile3B Brady House

CF Jacob Young

RHP Brad Lord

GIANTS

LF Heliot Ramos DH Rafael Devers SS Willy Adames 1B Dominic Smith 3B Matt Chapman CF Jung Hoo Lee 2B Casey Schmitt RF Drew Gilbert

C Andrew Knizner

LHP Carson Whisenhunt

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