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Nationals' lineup for the second of two with the Indians: Stephen Strasburg vs Cleveland

Washington Nationals' starter Stephen Strasburg takes the mound looking to bounce back from his first loss since September 2015 as the Nats look to bounce back from their second-straight loss.

By Patrick Reddington
Jason Miller/Getty Images

As ESPN's Stats&Info Twitter feed noted after last night's loss to the Cleveland Indians, Washington Nationals' reliever Jonathan Papelbon's 6 ER allowed in his last two outings were the most the 35-year-old closer has allowed in back-to-back outings in his 12-year career.

"He doesn't have his command," Dusty Baker told reporters after Papelbon gave up two hits, two walks (one of them intentional) and three runs without recording an out in what ended up a 7-6 loss.

"How does he look?" Baker asked rhetorically when a reporter asked for his thoughts on the closer. "Well, right now he doesn't look like Pap. He doesn't look very good."

The Nationals dropped their second straight game and Papelbon took a second straight loss after he gave up four hits, a walk and four earned runs in the finale of the Nationals' three-game set with the San Diego Padres on Sunday which saw the Nats blow a two-run lead in the eighth before they lost it in the ninth.

So, Baker was asked, how are the Nationals handling the losses? Will they be able bounce back from a disappointing loss like last night's?

"You have no choice," Baker said. "You've got to bounce back tomorrow, we have a 12:00 game, that's the epitome of bounce back. So, we've got our ace going tomorrow, one of our aces going tomorrow."

Stephen Strasburg, the "ace" Baker was referring to, will be trying to bounce back too, after suffering his first loss since September 2015 last time out.

Here's the lineup Baker is sending out for the second of two with the Indians in Ohio:

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