It's win or go home for the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers.
After each club stole a game on the road, it will take Game 5 to decide who moves on to the National League Championship Series.
Both clubs bring their own baggage into the NLDS finale. The Nats have never advanced past the division series round of the postseason. The Dodgers may have more pressure, though, after failing in consecutive World Series over the past two seasons.
Dave Martinez will start Ryan Zimmerman at first base. Zimmerman's played an instrumental role in getting the Nats to Game 5, going 3-for-9 at the plate in the series. It was his clutch 414-foot home run – a three-run shot – that gave the Nats a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth of Monday's Game 4. They would go on to win 6-1, staving off elimination.
It's Stephen Strasburg (18-6, 3.32 ERA) vs. Walker Buehler (14-4, 3.26 ERA) on the mound, a right-handed duel Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. First pitch is 8:37 p.m.
Which one will we see again in the NLCS? pic.twitter.com/KE7WkJbk5s
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 9, 2019Here's how the Nats and Dodgers are lining up for the decisive Game 5:
Nationals
Trea Turner SS
Adam Eaton RF
Anthony Rendon 3B
Juan Soto LF
Howie Kendrick 2B
Ryan Zimmerman 1B
Kurt Suzuki C
Michael A. Taylor CF
Stephen Strasburg SP
Go 1-0 today.#BeatLA // #STAYINTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/iIGcPIr98Z
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 9, 2019Dodgers
Joc Pederson RF
Max Muncy 2B
Justin Turner 3B
Cody Bellinger CF
Matt Beaty 1B
Corey Seager SS
Kike Hernandez LF
Will Smith C
Walker Buehler SP
The starting nine. #NLDS pic.twitter.com/XJ9QuWhsg0
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 9, 2019
