Desmond sits for second straight day

Desmond sits for second straight day
The Nationals will be without Ian Desmond for tonight's series finale against the Marlins. Desmond also sat out yesterday's game against the Marlins because of a sore left oblique which tightened up on him. He had played every inning for 71 straight games prior to missing yesterday's contest. With Desmond out of the lineup, the Nationals will again go with Danny Espinosa at shortstop and Steve Lombardozzi at second base. They'll face veteran right-hander Carlos Zambrano tonight at...
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Desmond not in Nationals lineup

Desmond not in Nationals lineup
For the first time in 71 games, Ian Desmond will not be at shortstop when the Nationals take the field today. Desmond and his sore oblique will get the day off, with Danny Espinosa sliding over from second base to play shortstop and Steve Lombardozzi filling in at second. Interestingly enough, Desmond needs the day off just two games into the second half of the season, after getting four days of rest over the All-Star break. Desmond started all but one game over the first half, and has...
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Nats lineup on a scalding Saturday (updated with Rockies lineup)

Nats lineup on a scalding Saturday (updated with Rockies lineup)
Yeah, it's a little bit warm in the nation's capital today. I don't envy Gio Gonzalez or Jeff Francis, the two starters who will be trying to fight through this heat at Nationals Park. It's bad enough trying to unstick myself from my chair in the press box, much less get a grip on a curveball. Here's the Nationals lineup today against Francis, who held the Nats in check in Denver last week: 2B Danny Espinosa CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian...
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Nats lineup vs. Rockies, Pomeranz

Nats lineup vs. Rockies, Pomeranz
Stephen Strasburg will oppose Drew Pomeranz tonight at Nationals Park in the opener of a three-game set between the Nats and Rockies. Pomeranz hasn't notched a win in six major league outings this season, but he did deliver a strong start his last time out, allowing just an unearned run on two hits over six innings. That was his first start back in the big leagues after a stint at Triple-A. They're calling for 97-degree temperatures at first pitch tonight, so it will be interesting to see...
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Harper's patient approach has returned (plus lineups)

Harper's patient approach has returned (plus lineups)
When Bryce Harper first got brought up to the big leagues, it was his patience at the plate which impressed me maybe more than anything else. Yes, he was athletic and had a smooth swing and played the game hard. But we knew he'd bring all that to the table. We didn't know that the 19-year-old with massive power and a desire to prove he was a big leaguer would be able to lay off tough pitches out of the zone and wait for something over the fat part of the plate. A couple weeks ago, however,...
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Your Fourth of July lineups

Your Fourth of July lineups
The Nationals will wear their normal red hats for this afternoon's 11:05 a.m. start, with a patriotic twist: The curly W will be camouflage. Trust me when I say that the special July 4 hats look pretty sweet. Happy Fourth of July to everyone out there. Hope your BBQs are fun, the fireworks shine brightly tonight and we get some good baseball this morning, even if it's far too early for me to be at the stadium. I'll be hitting up the press box coffee machine quite a few times over the...
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Nats lineup vs. Lincecum (with Giants lineup added)

Nats lineup vs. Lincecum (with Giants lineup added)
The Nationals will square off against the Giants and starter Tim Lincecum tonight. Lincecum is 3-8 with a 5.60 ERA this season, but has put up quality starts his last two times out. He delivered seven shutout innings his last start, which came against the Dodgers. Here's Davey Johnson's lineup for tonight: LF Steve Lombardozzi CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Jesus Flores P Jordan Zimmermann For the Giants: RF...
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Lineups with Strasburg on the mound

Lineups with Strasburg on the mound
The Nationals look to improve to 6-1 on the season against the Braves, and 5-0 at Turner Field, as they send Stephen Strasburg to the mound today. Here's manager Davey Johnson's lineup for today: 2B Danny Espinosa CF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF Tyler Moore C Jesus Flores P Stephen Strasburg For the Braves: CF Michael Bourn LF Martin Prado RF Jason Heyward 1B Freddie Freeman 2B Dan Uggla C Brian McCann SS Andrelton Simmons 3B...
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Nats, Rockies lineups for series finale

Nats, Rockies lineups for series finale
Facing yet another left-handed starting pitcher, Davey Johnson's lineup looks much the same as it has the last three days. Adam LaRoche returns to the lineup today after a day off, as does Jesus Flores. Tyler Moore remains in there in left field, hitting seventh. This will be the fourth straight lefty starter the Rockies will send to the mound this series. Today's Colorado starter is Josh Outman, who has struggled in 13 games (five starts) this season, going 0-3 with an 8.64 ERA. How does...
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Nationals lineup remains the same

Nationals lineup remains the same
The Nationals have averaged just 2.5 runs over their last 10 games. Despite the offensive slump, Davey Johnson is sticking with the same lineup tonight that he's used recently against left-handed starters. Washington will face Rockies lefty Christian Friedrich tonight, he of the 4-4 record and 5.65 ERA. Friedrich has gotten the loss in each his last three starts. Yet again, the Nats will get a chance to tee off against a guy with mediocre numbers this season. Gio Gonzalez will look to reach...
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Nationals lineup in the Mile High City

Nationals lineup in the Mile High City
Stephen Strasburg (9-1, 2.46 ERA) will oppose Jeff Francis (0-1, 8.56 ERA) tonight at Coors Field. The difference in those stat lines jumps out at you just a bit, doesn't it? Francis' numbers this season aren't exactly what you'd call impressive, but the veteran lefty did allow just one earned run his last time out against the Phillies. The Rockies are currently working with a four-man rotation, and they're capping their starters' pitch counts at 75 in order to keep them fresh....
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Zimmerman stays in three-spot in Nats lineup

Zimmerman stays in three-spot in Nats lineup
Davey Johnson admitted last night that he's given some thought to moving Ryan Zimmerman down in the order given his struggles this season. But Johnson said he planned to keep the .222-hitting Zimmerman in the three-spot in the lineup for now. That familiar three-hole is where Zimmerman remains today. The Nationals are going with their right-handed-heavy lineup today against Orioles lefty Wei-Yin Chen, who is 7-2 with a 3.36 ERA on the season. Tyler Moore will play left, Xavier Nady will...
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Nady back in lineup, Moore at first (Meyer to play in Futures Game)

Nady back in lineup, Moore at first (Meyer to play in Futures Game)
Facing Rays lefty Matt Moore, Xavier Nady is back in the Nationals' lineup tonight, playing left field and hitting seventh. The veteran outfielder will look to improve his .143 average on the season. Adam LaRoche will also get a day off, with the right-handed hitting Tyler Moore starting at first base. LaRoche has been nursing an oblique issue for much of the season and also fouled a ball off his right foot a little over a week ago. Against a lefty, manager Davey Johnson apparently feels...
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Nats lineup vs. Rays rookie Chris Archer

Nats lineup vs. Rays rookie Chris Archer
In his first major league start, Rays right-hander Chris Archer will get tossed right into a potentially volatile situation. After last night's GloveGate, tensions might be high tonight as the Nationals and Rays meet up in game two of this three-game series. Archer was called up from Triple-A to start tonight after Tampa Bay's original starter, Jeremy Hellickson, was scratched because of a shoulder injury. The 23-year-old Archer came over to the Rays in the Matt Garza deal, and has posted a...
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Roster move coming (with Nats lineup)

Roster move coming (with Nats lineup)
The Nationals will be making a roster move before today's series finale against the Yankees. Reliever Ryan Mattheus is listed on the lineup card among the available relievers for today's game. Mattheus will need to be activated off the disabled list, which he's been on due to plantar fasciitis since late May. Brad Lidge, who has allowed five runs over the last two days, is not listed among the available relievers for today. He was seen meeting with general manager Mike Rizzo this...
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Despite apparent injury, Desmond batting fifth (LaRoche rests)

Despite apparent injury, Desmond batting fifth (LaRoche rests)
We're under two hours until today's first pitch. Why has the Nationals' lineup still not been posted yet? Another injury, that's why. Trainers are currently looking at shortstop Ian Desmond, who has been battling what manager Davey Johnson referred to as "one of those side injuries." Sounds like yet another oblique issue, something which has also plagued Adam LaRoche and Mark DeRosa this season and is becoming one of the more common injuries around baseball. Johnson was first made...
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LaRoche back in Nats lineup (plus your predictions)

LaRoche back in Nats lineup (plus your predictions)
Adam LaRoche got the day off on Wednesday for the final game of the Nationals' six-game road trip after he fouled a ball off his right foot the night before. That opened the door for Tyler Moore's two-home run, five-RBI performance in Wednesday's win over the Blue Jays. Today, LaRoche returns to the Nats lineup for the series opener against the Yankees, and Moore returns to the bench. LaRoche will be back in the cleanup spot in the order and will play first. Here's the Nats lineup for...
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Rare day off for LaRoche, Moore starts at first

Rare day off for LaRoche, Moore starts at first
For the first time since May 7, the last day of a four-game stretch in which he was sidelined by an oblique injury, Adam LaRoche is not in the Nationals' lineup. LaRoche will get the day off today, while rookie Tyler Moore will make his first career start at first base. First base is Moore's natural position, but he's strictly played the outfield during his time with the Nats, largely because LaRoche has been a mainstay in the Nats' lineup at first. Also, on a side note, Bryce Harper...
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Harper returns to Nats lineup, Bernadina starts again

Harper returns to Nats lineup, Bernadina starts again
Bryce Harper's back kept him out of the starting lineup yesterday. Today, Harper and his back are back. The 19-year-old returns to the Nationals' lineup today as Washington opens a three-game series against the Blue Jays. Tonight, they'll face Toronto righty Brandon Morrow, who is off to a very strong start to the 2012 season, going 7-3 with a 2.90 ERA. Manager Davey Johnson said after yesterday's game that he will be giving Roger Bernadina some more playing time in the coming days, and...
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Gonzalez on mound, Morse serving as DH

Gonzalez on mound, Morse serving as DH
BOSTON - With right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka on the mound for Boston, Steve Lombardozzi is back in the leadoff spot. Gio Gonzalez (7-2, 2.31 ERA) will take the mound, and Michael Morse will DH for Game 2 at Fenway Park. Rick Ankiel will be in the starting lineup today, making the first time he's gotten a start since May 29. For the Nationals: LF Steve Lombardozzi RF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche DH Michael Morse SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa CF Rick Ankiel C Jesus...
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