Nationals vs Brewers N.L. Wild Card Preview<\/p>\n
Milwaukee Brewers<\/a> (89-73) vs. Washington Nationals<\/a> (93-69)<\/p>\n Time: 8:08 p.m. ET<\/p>\n Nationals Park: Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n Max Scherzer<\/a><\/strong> (11-7 2.92 ERA) vs. Brandon Woodruff<\/a><\/strong> (11-3 3.62 ERA)<\/p>\n Milwaukee enters this win or go home game as perhaps the hottest team in baseball.\u00a0 Despite losing MVP candidate Christian Yelich<\/a> <\/strong>to a fractured knee on September 11th<\/a>, the Brewers finished September with a 20-7 record. Ryan Braun<\/a><\/strong> (strained calf) and Lorenzo<\/strong> Cain<\/strong><\/a> (sprained ankle) are both nursing injuries but will play. Here is the Brewers confirmed lineup:<\/p>\n 1)\u00a0Trent Grisham<\/a><\/strong>, RF<\/p>\n 2)\u00a0Yasmani Grandal<\/a><\/strong>, C<\/p>\n 3)\u00a0Mike Moustakas<\/a><\/strong>, 3B<\/p>\n 4)\u00a0Keston Hiura<\/a><\/strong>, 2B<\/p>\n 5)\u00a0Ryan Braun, LF<\/p>\n 6)\u00a0Eric Thames<\/a><\/strong>, 1B<\/p>\n 7)\u00a0Lorenzo Cain, CF<\/p>\n 8)\u00a0Orlando Arcia<\/a><\/strong>, SS<\/p>\n 9)\u00a0Brandon Woodruff, P<\/p>\n The Nationals, like the Brewers, saved their best play of the season towards the end. They enter Tuesday night’s game winners of their last eight games. After a disastrous 19-31 start, the Nationals ended<\/a> 74-38. Kurt Suzuk<\/strong>i<\/a> has been dealing with elbow inflammation but started two games over the weekend and homered<\/a> in Sunday’s win over the Indians.\u00a0 Here is the Nationals confirmed lineup:<\/p>\n 1) Trea Turner<\/a><\/strong>, SS<\/p>\n 2)\u00a0Adam Eaton<\/strong>,<\/a> RF<\/p>\n 3)\u00a0Anthony Rendon<\/a><\/strong>, 3B<\/p>\n 4)\u00a0Juan Soto<\/a><\/strong>, LF<\/p>\n 5)\u00a0Howie Kendrick<\/a><\/strong>, 1B<\/p>\n 6)\u00a0Asdr\u00fabal Cabrera<\/a><\/strong>, 2B<\/p>\n 7)\u00a0Kurt Suzuki, C<\/p>\n 8)\u00a0Victor Robles<\/a><\/strong>, CF<\/p>\n 9)\u00a0Max Scherzer, P<\/p>\n Although there are certainly other pitchers that could be considered, Scherzer is perhaps the first name that would come to mind if you had to pick any MLB starter for a must-win game. Although he’s battled back and shoulder injuries throughout the year, he’s still managed a sub-3.00 ERA and struck out 243<\/a> batters.<\/p>\n It’s been no secret that the Nationals bullpen has struggled this year, so in the event he gets into trouble early the Nationals will have Patrick Corbin<\/a><\/strong> and Stephen Strasburg<\/a> <\/strong>available in the bullpen.<\/p>\n The Nationals are hoping to get as many innings as possible out of Scherzer, but the Brewers seem destined for a different approach.<\/p>\n Brandon Woodruff will start, but unless he is just mowing down the Nationals, it seems he will just serve as the opener for a bullpen game.<\/p>\n Woodruff had a very solid season with a 3.62 ERA<\/a> and 143 strikeouts<\/a> in just 121 2\/3 innings pitched, but he has missed a lot of time with injury. He has also thrown just two innings in each of his last two starts.<\/p>\n There seems to be some concern his arm is not stretched out enough for multiple innings, but Milwaukee may take some risks, however, as the Brewers are 18-4<\/a> in Woodruff’s starts this season.<\/p>\n Milwaukee took the regular-season series 4-2<\/a>, which included a three-game sweep in Milwaukee in May.\u00a0 Unfortunately for the Brewers, they will have to deal with a rowdy Washington fan base that is itching for postseason success. The Nationals will bring everything they have for this game after coming up short the past few seasons.\u00a0 The winner will move on to face the Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> in the Division Series.<\/p>\n Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images<\/a>Milwaukee Brewers’ Lineup<\/h2>\n
Washington Nationals’ Lineup<\/h2>\n
Scherzer vs. Woodruff<\/h2>\n
For all the Marbles<\/h2>\n