Red Sox vs. Nationals lineups: Xander Bogaerts sits with knee soreness

Xander Bogaerts will sit out Tuesday night with a sore knee as the Red Sox try to lock in a third straight series win, this time against the Washington Nationals.

Boston Red Sox (5-2)

1. Mookie Betts, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Hanley Ramirez, LF
5. Pablo Sandoval, 3B
6. Mike Napoli, 1B
7. Daniel Nava, RF
8. Ryan Hanigan, C
9. Brock Holt, SS

Starting Pitcher -- Justin Masterson

Washington Nationals (2-5)

1. Yunel Escobar, 3B
2. Jayson Werth, LF
3. Bryce Harper, RF
4. Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
5. Clint Robinson, DH
6. Wilson Ramos, C
7. Ian Desmond, SS
8. Danny Espinosa, 2B
9. Michael Taylor, CF

Starting Pitcher -- Stephen Strasburg

There will be some breath-holding going on in Boston tonight until we know better what's going on with Xander Bogaerts, but the show must go on, bringing Brock Holt back into the lineup three days after his four-hit performance against New York.

Unsurprisingly with Washington in town, the Red Sox are facing what looks on the surface like, if not a complete mismatch, at least an imbalanced pitching matchup between Justin Masterson and Stephen Strasburg. Masterson is actually off to the better start this season, but as we saw on Sunday, a pitcher's first game out provides no guarantees about their second.

First pitch is early tonight at 6:10 p.m. with broadcasts on NESN and WEEI.