Harper batting second for morning tilt with Cubs

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

July 04, 2014, 5:03am

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After batting sixth in his first three games back from the disabled list, Bryce Harper has been elevated to second in the order for the first time since April 21. Harper has batted second 135 times in 272 major league starts. He has gone 3-for-11 (.273) with a double and an RBI in his three games since being activated. With the 21-year-old moving up, Anthony Rendon is moving down. Rendon has batted first or second in 42 of his last 43 games. Today, he's batting sixth for just the second time this season and first time since April 8. That lineup shakeup comes with the Nationals facing Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel following three straight lefties in the Rockies series. For the Nationals CF Denard Span LF Bryce Harper RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche 3B Ryan Zimmerman 2B Anthony Rendon SS Ian Desmond C Wilson Ramos RHP Tanner Roark For the Cubs LF Chris Coghlan CF Justin Ruggiano 1B Anthony Rizzo SS Starlin Castro 3B Luis Valbuena RF Nate Schierholtz C John Baker 2B Darwin Barney RHP Jason Hammel