Washington Nationals’ lineup for nightcap of doubleheader with the Chicago Cubs...

SHOCKING NEWS!! Hold on to your butts! Juan Soto is not playing tonight in the second game of today’s doubleheader with the Chicago Cubs.

I know, I know, it seems odd for a lineup to not include Soto’s name after all this time, but it’s happening... for the first time since July 4th.

Soto went 1 for 5 with two RBIs in the Nationals’ 10-3 win over the Cubbies in the first of two today in the nation’s capital, leaving him 61 for 209 (.292 AVG) since the last time he didn’t start for the Nationals, though he did make an appearance late in that 4th of July game.

On the season, the Nationals’ 19-year-old outfielder has a .298/.416/.506 line, 21 doubles and 18 HRs in 97 games and 412 PAs overall in his rookie campaign.

Nats’ skipper Davey Martinez has talked recently about wanting to get Soto a day off but the outfielder has declined the opportunity when asked over the last couple weeks.

Soto’s sitting tonight, so Victor Robles is starting in left with Michael A. Taylor making a rare appearance in the lineup in center and Bryce Harper playing the second of two in right field as the Nationals try to make it two in a row after snapping a three-game losing streak with a win this afternoon.

HERE’S THE NATIONALS’ LINEUP FOR THE NIGHTCAP WITH THE CUBS: