(Jonathan Daniel - GETTY IMAGES)
A day after being given a day off to help clear his mind and frustration at the plate, Danny Espinosa is back in the lineup and leading off against Orioles left-hander Wei-Yin Chen (4-1, 2.68 ERA) on Sunday. It’s a curious move as Espinosa is mired in a vicious sophomore slump that has him hitting .207/.291/.307. This is the first time he has led off this season; he hit lead off 20 times last season.
Of the Nationals regulars, Espinosa has the second-worst on-base percentage (.291).
On Saturday, Manager Davey Johnson made changes to his lineup hoping it could provide a spark. He moved the team’s usual leadoff hitter, Ian Desmond, from a table-setting role to a more run-producing one at the fifth spot in the order. Bryce Harper was moved up to the second spot to take advantage of his aggressiveness.
Oh, and some pitcher named Stephen Strasburg (3-1, 2.25 ERA) is on the mound on Sunday.
Nationals
1. Danny Espinosa, 2B
2. Bryce Harper, CF
3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
4. Adam LaRoche, 1B
5. Ian Desmond, SS
6. Xavier Nady, RF
7. Tyler Moore, LF
8. Jesus Flores, C
9. Stephen Strasburg, SP
Orioles
1. Xavier Avery, LF
2. J.J. Hardy, SS
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Adam Jones, CF
5. Wilson Betemit, 3B
6. Chris Davis, 1B
7. Robert Andino, 2B
8. Luis Exposito, C
9. Wei-Yin Chen, SP
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