Desmond returns, Werth DHing

After getting double-switched out of Wednesday's game in the fifth inning and missing yesterday's game due to back stiffness, Ian Desmond is back in the Nationals' lineup for tonight's game against the Royals. Yesterday marked just the third game that Desmond has missed all season. His back originally tightened up on him during batting practice Wednesday. Jayson Werth will serve as the designated hitter for the Nats tonight in their interleague matchup against Kansas City. Bryce Harper will slide over and play right field, and Tyler Moore will play left as the Nats face veteran left-hander Bruce Chen. Chen is 5-1 with an impressive 2.20 ERA in 26 games (seven starts) for the Royals this season. The Nats will counter with their own talented lefty - Gio Gonzalez, who is searching for his first win since July 10. Gonzalez has gone 0-3 in his last six starts despite allowing more than three earned runs in an outing just once in that span. Three of the eight position players in the Royals' lineup tonight are former Nats: Emilio Bonifacio, Justin Maxwell and Jamey Carroll. For the Nats CF Denard Span 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Bryce Harper DH Jayson Werth SS Ian Desmond C Wilson Ramos 1B Adam LaRoche LF Tyler Moore 2B Anthony Rendon LHP Gio Gonzalez For the Royals LF Alex Gordon 1B Eric Hosmer C Salvador Perez DH Billy Butler RF Justin Maxwell CF Emilio Bonifacio SS Alcides Escobar 2B Chris Getz 3B Jamey Carroll LHP Bruce Chen