Nationals Go for Eighth in a Row Behind Stephen Strasburg

Aug 8, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher

(37) throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

After another dramatic, come from behind walk-off victory last night — their third in as many days — the Nationals face the Diamondbacks tonight in the second game of a four-game series against Arizona.

Stephen Strasburg (9-10, 3.53 ERA) gets the start for the Nationals as he looks to build off a dominant performance against the Mets his last time out. The Nationals’ right-hander allowed just three hits and one (unearned) run over seven solid innings while striking out eight batters.

It’s been a strange month for Strasburg as the right-hander has struggled to carry over his success from one start to the next. A perfect example of this is his last two starts. Strasburg pitched one of his best games of the season his last time out just five days after allowing seven runs in one of the worst starts of his career. If the Nationals want to extend their longest win streak of the season to eight games, Strasburg will have to turn in a second consecutive strong start for only the second time in the last month.

In his career against the Diamondbacks, Strasburg is 2-1 with 27 strikeouts and a 2.53 ERA in 32 innings.

The Diamondbacks will counter with right-hander Chase Anderson (7-4, 3.16 ERA). Anderson threw six solid innings his last time out, holding the Marlins to three runs on nine hits. The Diamondbacks’ rookie has pitched well all season and has not lost since July 2. Tonight’s game will be Anderson’s first career start against the Nationals.

Prior to tonight’s game, the Nationals are 70-53 and lead the second-place Braves by six games in the NL East.

Here are the lineups for tonight’s game:

1. CF: Ender Inciarte
2. 2B: Aaron Hill
3. RF: David Peralta
4. LF: Mark Trumbo
5. C: Miguel Montero
6. 1B: Jordan Pacheco
7. 3B: Jake Lamb
8. SS: Didi Gregorius
9. SP: Chase Anderson

Nationals

1. CF: Denard Span
2. 3B: Anthony Rendon
3. RF: Jayson Werth
4. 1B: Adam LaRoche
5. SS: Ian Desmond
6. LF: Bryce Harper
7. 2B: Asdrubal Cabrera
8. C: Jose Lobaton
9. SP: Stephen Strasburg