Game 153 lineups: Nats vs. Mets

And so we have come to the final homestand of the 2018 season. The Nationals host the Mets for four games, then the Marlins for three before hitting the road for an admittedly odd final series at Colorado next weekend. There will be time for some sentimentality once we reach the later stages of the homestand, but for now it's all business. Especially for the man on the mound tonight.

Max Scherzer makes what lines up to be the first of three more starts this season. That number is significant, because the right-hander enters tonight's game with a 17-7 record, 2.53 ERA and 277 strikeouts. You know what three more wins would mean. And you know what 23 more strikeouts would mean. Here's what you may not know: Since 1975, only three pitchers have combined 20 wins with 300 strikeouts: Pedro Martinez (1999), Randy Johnson (2001-02) and Curt Schilling (2002). Scherzer has a chance to join that group with three big-time starts.

Jason Vargas starts tonight for the Mets, looking to duplicate his performance against the Nationals last month (six scoreless innings). He'll be facing a lineup that again includes Victor Robles, starting in center field and leading off, with Adam Eaton sitting.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. NEW YORK METS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Partly cloudy, 76 degrees, wind 8 mph right field to left field

NATIONALS
CF Victor Robles
SS Trea Turner
RF Bryce Harper
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
1B Ryan Zimmerman
C Matt Wieters
2B Adrian Sanchez
RHP Max Scherzer

METS
SS Amed Rosario
2B Jeff McNeil
RF Michael Conforto
1B Jay Bruce
LF Dominic Smith
CF Brandon Nimmo
3B José Reyes
C Kevin Plawecki
LHP Jason Vargas