Yunel Escobar returns after groin injury (with lineups)

By Josh Land

Nationals

April 21, 2015, 11:48am

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Third baseman Yunel Escobar returns to the Nationals lineup this evening after missing the previous two games with a strained groin. Escobar hasn't played since the injury occurred while running out a ground ball in the fifth inning of Friday's win over the Phillies.

With center fielder Denard Span back in his normal leadoff spot, Escobar drops to sixth. He's batting .286 (12-for-42) with a homer and two doubles so far this year.

Left fielder Jayson Werth will look to get his bat going after a day off on Sunday. The 35-year-old is off to a slow start since being activated from the disabled list last Monday after a lengthy rehab on his surgically repaired right shoulder. Werth has managed just three hits in his first 23 at-bats.

For the Cardinals:

3B Matt Carpenter
RF Jason Heyward
LF Matt Holliday
SS Jhonny Peralta
1B Mark Reynolds
CF Jon Jay
C Yadier Molina
2B Kolten Wong
RHP Lance Lynn

For the Nationals:

CF Denard Span
SS Ian Desmond
LF Jayson Werth
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
3B Yunel Escobar
C Wilson Ramos
2B Danny Espinosa
LHP Gio Gonzalez