Maikel Franco is out of the Phillies' lineup for the second straight game Thursday with a jammed thumb.
Andres Blanco, who played last night for the first time since July 24, plays third base and bats third in Franco's place. Blanco had missed the Phillies' previous 38 games with a fractured left index finger.
Ryan Howard, who sat out Wednesday's contest against the Marlins, returns to the lineup and bats fourth. Howard homered last season off A.J. Cole, who starts for the Nationals in Thursday's series opener.
After sitting out the last two games behind A.J. Ellis, Cameron Rupp is back behind the plate and bats fifth. Rupp has had a breakout offensive season in 2016, but he's just 18 for 96 (.188) against the Nationals, Mets and Marlins.
Here are tonight's lineups:
Phillies
1. Cesar Hernandez, 2B
2. Odubel Herrera, CF
3. Andres Blanco, 3B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Cameron Rupp, C
6. Freddy Galvis, SS
7. Aaron Altherr, LF
8. Peter Bourjos, RF
9. Alec Asher, P
Nationals
1. Trea Turner, CF
2. Jayson Werth, LF
3. Daniel Murphy, 2B
4. Bryce Harper, RF
5. Anthony Rendon, 3B
6. Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
7. Danny Espinosa, SS
8. Jose Lobaton, C
9. A.J. Cole, P