NLDS Game 5 lineups look awfully familiar for Dodgers, Nationals

The starting lineups for the decisive Game 5 of the National League Division Series are quite familiar for both the Dodgers and Nationals on Thursday night at Nationals Park in Washington D.C.

The Dodgers are using the same lineup they used in Game 1 against Max Scherzer, which is also the lineup they used in Games 2 and 4 as well.

The Nationals use their same lineup as they did in Game 2 against Rich Hill, with Jose Lobaton catching and batting eighth, and key left-handers Bryce Harper (second) and Daniel Murphy (cleanup) broken up with right-hander Jayson Werth (batting third) in between.

Corey Seager, batting second on Thursday, has had a bizarre series. He started each of the first three games of the NLDS with run-scoring extra-base hits — solo home runs off Max Scherzer in Game 1 and Tanner Roark in Game 2, followed by an RBI double to the wall against Gio Gonzalez in Game 3 — but is otherwise 0-for-15 with five strikeouts, including 0 for his last 8, with six of those eight at-bats coming with runners on base.

Chase Utley, who drove home the game-winner in Game 4, is 3-for-13 (.231) with a walk and HBP (.333 OBP) in the NLDS, and is also 3-for-13 with two doubles in his career against Scherzer, including an RBI single in Game 1.

Andrew Toles, who scored on both Utley RBI singles in this series, gets the start in left field again in this series. Toles is 1-for-7 (.143) in the NLDS with two HBP (.333 OBP). The only time during the regular season that he started four times in five games was a stretch from July 21-30 that saw him start six times in an eight-game span.