Nats, Rockies lineups for tonight's series opener

Nats, Rockies lineups for tonight's series opener
The Nationals will go with the same lineup in today's series opener against the Rockies that they ran out last night against the Phillies. With Roger Bernadina still dealing with some type of issue with his left eye, Steve Lombardozzi will play left field again tonight. Bernadina was scratched from last night's game due to the eye, which Bernadina said was bothering him when he woke up yesterday morning. Johnson had hoped to have Bernadina in the lineup today because he's hitting .353 with...

Span returns to Nats lineup

Span returns to Nats lineup
PHILADELPHIA - It absolutely poured here in Philly a couple of hours ago, and as I was trying to get off an exit ramp near Citizens Bank Park, I had to drive my Mazda3 through a two-foot-high puddle that felt more like a river. I made it through just fine, and avoided having to roll down the window and swim to the ballpark. I guess the positive side is that my car won't need to be washed for a little while. The rain has eased up a bit from where it was at around 1:30 p.m., but it's still...

Span, LaRoche out of Nats lineup vs. Lannan

Span, LaRoche out of Nats lineup vs. Lannan
PHILADELPHIA - Both Denard Span and Adam LaRoche are out of the Nationals lineup for tonight's series opener against the Phillies. Span fouled yet another ball off his right foot yesterday (something he's done quite a bit over the last couple of months) and will get today off. So will LaRoche, who is mired in an 0-for-15 slump, with six strikeouts in his last four games. With Phillies left-hander John Lannan getting the ball tonight, Nats manager Davey Johnson is sitting two left-handed...

Nationals-Indians lineups (Strasburg returns, Cedeno back to Syracuse)

Nationals-Indians lineups (Strasburg returns, Cedeno back to Syracuse)
It's a Father's Day special at Progressive Field, as the Nationals seek their third straight series win. Last night, the Nationals come back to beat the Indians 7-6 on the first major league home run by Anthony Rendon. Sunday is special in many ways, but for the Nationals, the top return of Stephen Strasburg (3-5, 2.54 ERA) is at the top of the list. Xavier Cedeno was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to make room on the 25-man roster. The Indians counter with Corey Kluber (4-4, 4.08 ERA) Here...

Orioles lineup vs. Angels

Orioles lineup vs. Angels
It's raining cats, dogs and other assorted house pets here at Camden Yards. If tonight's game is postponed, the teams likely will play a doubleheader on Tuesday. Stay tuned for updates. For the Orioles Nate McLouth LF Manny Machado 3B Nick Markakis RF Adam Jones CF Chris Davis 1B Matt Wieters C J.J. Hardy SS Chris Dickerson DH Ryan Flaherty 2B Freddy Garcia RHP For the Angels Mike Trout LF Josh Hamilton RF Albert Pujols DH Mark Trumbo 1B Howie Kendrick 2B Alberto Callaspo 3B Erick...

Span, Bernadina and Solano part of Nats' Game 2 lineup

Span, Bernadina and Solano part of Nats' Game 2 lineup
After sitting out the first half of today's doubleheader with a sore ankle, Denard Span returns to the Nationals' lineup for the nightcap. Span will be back in center field and atop the batting order as the Nats look to sweep the doubleheader and take 2-of-3 from the Twins, Span's former team. Also in the Nats' lineup for Game 2 of the doubleheader are Roger Bernadina, who will play left field and hit second, and Jhonatan Solano, who will be behind the plate and hit eighth. Nathan Karns...

Rendon at second base again (plus Twins lineup)

Rendon at second base again (plus Twins lineup)
Anthony Rendon is back at second base for the Nationals in the delayed opener of a three-game interleague series against the Minnesota Twins. Here are the lineups for today's 4:05 p.m. game at Nationals Park. For the Twins: 3B Jamey Carroll C Joe Mauer RF Ryan Doumit LF Josh Willingham 1B Justin Morneau CD Aaron Hicks 2B Brian Dozier SS Pedro Florimon RHP Kevin Correia For the Nationals: CF Denard Span RF Jayson Werth 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B Anthony Rendon LF...

Rendon makes first major league start at second base

Rendon makes first major league start at second base
The Nationals don't have to decide between playing Anthony Rendon or Steve Lombardozzi for tonight's game against the Mets. Both are in the lineup. Rendon, recalled from Triple-A Syracuse in yesterday's wave of roster shuffling, makes his first major league start at second base and bats sixth. Lombardozzi, who played second base and delivered a walk-off sac fly last night, shifts to left field and hits seventh. Here is the full lineup for the Nationals CF Denard Span RF Jayson Werth 3B...

Tonight's Nats, Braves lineups

Tonight's Nats, Braves lineups
ATLANTA - Davey Johnson is going with the same lineup from 1-8 in the batting order tonight, leaving Steve Lombardozzi in the No. 2 spot, Roger Bernadina in the No. 6 spot and Danny Espinosa hitting seventh. Lombardozzi will play left field for the second straight game while Bernadina will play right. Gio Gonzalez (3-3, 3.90 ERA) starts tonight for the Nats. Gonzalez is coming off a rough start his last time out, when he allowed eight hits, four runs and four walks over 5 2/3 innings in a...

Harper still out, Lombardozzi in left

Harper still out, Lombardozzi in left
ATLANTA - Bryce Harper is out of the Nationals lineup for the fifth straight game because of bursitis in his left knee, leaving manager Davey Johnson to again try and piece together an outfield alignment featuring multiple bench players and a batting order that includes multiple guys with batting averages below the Mendoza Line. Johnson has opted to sit Tyler Moore for tonight's series opener against the Braves, instead going with Steve Lombardozzi in left field and Roger Bernadina in...

Tracy at first, LaRoche DHing

Tracy at first, LaRoche DHing
BALTIMORE - Davey Johnson will go with the same batting order as last night and make just one position change on the diamond, with the exception of the starting pitcher. Chad Tracy will play first base for the Nationals today, with Adam LaRoche getting a bit of a breather, serving as the designated hitter. The Nats will take their hacks against veteran right-hander Freddy Garcia, who has gone 1-2 with a 4.61 ERA in five starts since getting called up by the Orioles. Garcia hasn't allowed...

Espinosa returns to lineup

Espinosa returns to lineup
BALTIMORE - After sitting for a week with a broken bone in his right wrist, Danny Espinosa will return to the Nats lineup tonight, facing right-hander Chris Tillman. He'll bat ninth, with Chad Tracy picking up DH duties. Once again, Bryce Harper will be on the bench, battling bursitis in his left knee. For the Nats CF Denard Span RF Roger Bernadina 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF Tyler Moore DH Chad Tracy C Kurt Suzuki 2B Danny Espinosa RHP Jordan...

Nats' roster moves official, plus lineups

Nats' roster moves official, plus lineups
The Nationals have made it official, selecting the contract of infielder/outfielder Jeff Kobernus from Triple-A Syracuse and designating right-hander Yunesky Maya for assignment. Yes, Kobernus' position was listed on the official team press release as "infielder/outfielder". The 2009 second-round pick is a career-long infielder, but he's seen action in the outfield in 28 games for Syracuse this season. In parts of five minor-league seasons (2009-2013), Kobernus batted .286 with 77...

Lombardozzi playing second, Suzuki hitting sixth

Lombardozzi playing second, Suzuki hitting sixth
Steve Lombardozzi is playing second and hitting eighth for the Nationals today in their series opener against the Phillies, as Danny Espinosa gets a day off. Kurt Suzuki, who normally hits eighth for the Nats, has been bumped up to the No. 6 spot in the order, with the struggling Tyler Moore hitting seventh. The Nats will face right-hander Kyle Kendrick today, he of the 4-2 record and 2.82 ERA. Jordan Zimmermann gets the start for the Nats, looking to improve upon his 7-2 mark and 1.62 ERA...

Desmond hitting cleanup in West Coast finale

Desmond hitting cleanup in West Coast finale
The Nationals will happily put a cap on their rocky 10-game West Coast road trip today when they face the Giants in the finale of this three-game set. Manager Davey Johnson has tweaked his lineup again, moving Ian Desmond into the cleanup spot and bumping Adam LaRoche down to the No. 5 hole in the order against Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner. Tyler Moore will play left field and hit sixth today. Bumgarner is coming off the worst start of his career; he allowed nine runs his last...

Harper returns, Espinosa, Suzuki sit (with Giants lineup)

Harper returns, Espinosa, Suzuki sit (with Giants lineup)
Tonight's Nationals lineup will feature Bryce Harper. It will not feature Danny Espinosa or Kurt Suzuki. Harper returns to the Nats lineup after missing the last two games with a sore left knee, an injury suffered during his collision with the right field wall in Dodger Stadium a week ago. The 20-year-old will return to his normal No. 3 spot in the order and will play right field. Steve Lombardozzi will hit in front of Harper and will play second base. Lombardozzi will replace Danny...

Harper, Desmond out of Nats lineup

Harper, Desmond out of Nats lineup
After a couple days out of town, I'm back in action. Who missed me? Thanks to the MASNsports.com crew for filling in for me recently. Looks like I missed a couple impressive pitching performances. Anyway, enough about me and on to the stuff that matters. Bryce Harper is out of the Nationals lineup again today, missing his second straight contest with a bruised left knee. Ian Desmond will also sit out today, but his absence is merely due to a scheduled day off. This will be the first game...

Jurrjens making O's debut, Arrieta back in Baltimore (with notes)

Jurrjens making O's debut, Arrieta back in Baltimore (with notes)
Jair Jurrjens is set to make his Orioles debut for today's 4:05 p.m. start vs. the Rays. After hitting a three-run home run in last night's game, Chris Dickerson will get another start. He'll DH, batting eighth. Yamaico Navarro will get his second consecutive start at second, batting ninth. He went 2-4 with a triple and a run yesterday. For the Rays Desmond Jennings CF Matt Joyce RF Ben Zobrist 2B Evan Longoria 3B James Loney 1B Luke Scott DH Kelly Johnson LF Jose Molina C Yunel Escobar...

Harper out of Nats lineup again

Harper out of Nats lineup again
The Nationals will have to play another day without Bryce Harper. Harper, the Nats' leader in pretty much every major offensive statistical category, is out of the lineup for the second straight day after colliding with the right field wall Monday night. The collision left Harper with a bruised knee and shoulder, and he'll get another day to rest those - among other - ailments. Denard Span is back in Davey Johnson's lineup tonight after getting most of last night's game off. Steve...

Harper out of Nats' lineup after yesterday's wall collision (Span out, too)

Harper out of Nats' lineup after yesterday's wall collision (Span out, too)
Not surprisingly, Bryce Harper is out of the Nationals' lineup the day after crashing face-first into the right field wall at Dodger Stadium, a collision that left him with a bruised knee and shoulder, as well as 11 stitches in his chin. Harper will miss his third game in the last five days. He sat out last Friday and Saturday's games against the Cubs after having surgery to remove an ingrown toenail. That procedure surely hurt (I had an ingrown toenail removed a handful of years ago, and...