Markakis returns to lineup against Scherzer

So, here’s what the Braves are doing for this afternoon’s series finale at Nationals Park:

This will be the 11th time Markakis has hit sixth this season, but the first time since September 7, as he hit eighth in his other two starts since. Otherwise, this is the same top five that the Braves have used in three of their last four games (Travis d’Arnaud sat in one and was replaced by Adam Duvall at cleanup). This is the second time the Braves have used this defensive arrangement despite it being a novel lineup; the Braves lost the first one, this past Friday, by an 8-7 score.

Meanwhile, the Nationals line up like this behind Max Scherzer:

No Brock Holt, so this is a pretty novel arrangement for the team in terms of both batting order and defensive alignment. It’s a little to me to see Asdrubal Cabrera starting at first base given that he has an 82 wRC+ and projects to be basically at or below replacement, but it is what it is for this last-place team.