Game 144 lineups: Nats at Twins

MINNEAPOLIS - The Nationals really need a win tonight. Which means they need to score runs. Preferably early in the game.

For what it's worth, this appears to be a favorable matchup against Twins left-hander MartÃn PÃ©rez. The Nats tend to hit lefties well (aside from last weekend's struggles against Max Fried and Dallas Keuchel). PÃ©rez has a 4.75 ERA and 1.463 WHIP. And a few Nats who have faced him before have good numbers, including Brian Dozier (5-for-12, two homers) and Adam Eaton (3-for-5, one double). Whether any of that actually results in runs tonight is anyone's guess.

Stephen Strasburg, meanwhile, gets the ball for his 30th start of the season. It's only the third time in his career he's reached that mark of durability. He's also looking to surpass 190 innings pitched for only the second time. Like Max Scherzer and AnÃbal SÃ¡nchez in recent days, Strasburg will be working with Yan Gomes, who makes his third consecutive start behind the plate in place of the ailing Kurt Suzuki.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at MINNESOTA TWINS
Where: Target Field
Gametime: 7:40 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, MLB.com
Weather: Rain late, 63 degrees, wind 12 mph in from left field

NATIONALS (79-64)
SS Trea Turner
RF Adam Eaton
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Juan Soto
DH Howie Kendrick
1B Ryan Zimmerman
2B Brian Dozier
C Yan Gomes
CF Victor Robles

RHP Stephen Strasburg

TWINS (89-55)
LF Luis Arraez
SS Jorge Polanco
DH Nelson Cruz
RF Eddie Rosario
1B Willians Astudillo
3B Ehire Adrianza
CF LaMonte Wade Jr.
2B Jonathan Schoop
C Jason Castro