Game 7 lineups: Nats at Cardinals

By Mark Zuckerman

Nationals

April 12, 2021, 12:39pm

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For the first time in 2021, the Nationals will field their full starting lineup. Now it's up to that reinforced unit to actually produce and help end a five-game skid.

Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber and Josh Harrison all were activated from the COVID-19-related injury list today and all three are in manager Davey Martinez's lineup for the series opener against the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Bell will hit cleanup and provide protection for the already-red-hot Juan Soto, with Schwarber behind him and Harrison in the seven-spot.

The lineup has been bolstered, but the Nationals also need a better showing from Erick Fedde than they got last time he was on the mound. Fedde, who remains in the rotation because Jon Lester needs more time to build his arm back up after the layoff, was rocked by the Braves in the opener of last week's doubleheader in D.C. Fedde needs to be better against a tough Cardinals lineup and provide both quality and length in his second start.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Where: Busch Stadium
Gametime: 7:45 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 62 degrees, wind 7 mph in from left field

NATIONALS
CF Victor Robles
SS Trea Turner
RF Juan Soto
1B Josh Bell
LF Kyle Schwarber
3B Starlin Castro
2B Josh Harrison
C Yan Gomes
RHP Erick Fedde

CARDINALS
RF Tommy Edman
1B Paul Goldschmidt
3B Nolan Arenado
C Yadier Molina
CF Dylan Carlson
SS Paul DeJong
2B Matt Carpenter
LF Justin Williams
RHP John Gant