Nationals Turn to Tanner Roark to Snap Four-Game Skid

Jun 11, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher

(57) throws the ball against the San Francisco Giants during the seventh inning at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

After a grueling ten-game road trip in which they took three out of four against the Giants and got swept by the Cardinals, the Nationals return to D.C. looking to end their four-game losing streak Tuesday night against the Astros. This week’s three-game series against Houston would be a great time for the team to return to its winning ways with a crucial four-game series against the Atlanta Braves looming later in the week.

Tanner Roark gets the start for the Nationals as he looks to continue his dominant season with another strong performance on Tuesday. Roark (5-4, 2.92 ERA) has won each of his last two starts and has surrendered just three earned runs over his last 21 innings of work.

Unfortunately for the Nationals’ struggling offense, the Astros will counter with an equally dominant starter, Dallas Keuchel . Keuchel (8-3, 2.28) has emerged as one of the best pitchers in the American League this season. In his last six starts, Keuchel is 6-1 and boasts a 1.33 ERA.

Prior to Tuesday night’s game, the Nationals are just two games over .500 at 35-33 and sit a half game behind the Braves in the National League East.

Here are the lineups for tonight’s game:

1. CF: Dexter Fowler
2. 2B: Jose Altuve
3. RF: George Springer
4. 1B: Jon Singleton
5. C: Jason Castro
6. 3B: Matt Dominguez
7. SS: Jonathan Villar
8. LF: Robbie Grossman
9. SP: Dallas Keuchel

Washington Nationals Lineup

1. CF: Denard Span
2. 3B: Anthony Rendon
3. RF: Jayson Werth
4. 1B: Adam LaRoche
5. LF: Ryan Zimmerman
6. SS: Ian Desmond
7. 2B: Danny Espinosa
8. C: Jose Lobaton
9. SP: Tanner Roark