Game 62 lineups: Nats vs. Cubs

The Nationals have won four of their last five series, beating the Orioles, Braves, Mariners and Diamondbacks. And tonight they have an opportunity to win another series if they can topple the Cubs in the rubber game of this three-game set. To do so, they’ll need to overcome the dreaded opener.

Yes, Chicago manager Craig Counsell is going new-school with his pitching plan for tonight’s game. Veteran left-handed reliever Drew Pomeranz is going to start, with right-handed starter Colin Rea replacing him at some point in the first few innings. That creates some potential matchup problems for Davey Martinez, who has to decide if he wants to start his right-handed bats (Amed Rosario, Alex Call) and either replace them in-game or stick with them no matter who’s on the mound.

On the flip side, Jake Irvin makes what feels like a big start for the right-hander. He was roughed up in Arizona last week, giving up four quick runs in the first inning and two more in the third, ultimately failing to record a strikeout over five labored innings. But that came on the heels of eight scoreless innings (with seven strikeouts) against San Francisco. Which version shows up tonight against a good Cubs lineup?

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. CHICAGO CUBS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 6:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 87.7 FM (Spanish), MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 82 degrees, wind 10 mph out to left field

CUBS
LF Ian Happ
RF Kyle Tucker
DH Seiya Suzuki
CF Pete Crow-Armstrong
SS Dansby Swanson
1B Michael Busch
2B Nico Hoerner
3B Matt Shaw
C Reese McGuire

LHP Drew Pomeranz

NATIONALS
SS CJ Abrams
3B Amed Rosario
LF James Wood
1B Nathaniel Lowe
C Keibert Ruiz
DH Josh Bell
RF Alex Call
2B Luis García Jr.
CF Robert Hassell III

RHP Jake Irvin