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As the Nationals go for a series win against the Astros tonight, they're trotting out a bit of a different look against left-hander J.A. Happ.
Danny Espinosa is in the leadoff spot and Ian Desmond is batting second, as manager Davey Johnson tries to stack a number of right-handed hitters near the top of his lineup. Espinosa has a .903 career OPS against lefties, so it makes sense to get him more at-bats at the top of the lineup, and Desmond hit .326 from the No. 2 spot last year. He's been hitting well lately, and by sticking him between Espinosa and Ryan Zimmerman, Johnson is hoping to get to Happ early.
Here are the lineups for both teams:
Nationals:
Espinosa - 2B
Desmond - SS
Zimmerman - 3B
Morse - 1B
Werth - RF
Ramos - C
Bernadina - CF
Hairston - LF
Zimmermann - P
Astros:
Bourn - CF
Keppinger - 2B
Wallace - 1B
Pence - RF
Lee - LF
Johnson - 3B
Barmes - SS
Quintero - C
Happ - P
