The Washington Nationals went into the series finale on Wednesday without the left side of the everyday infield, but both Ian Desmond and Anthony Rendon are back in the lineup tonight for the series opener with the Mets in New York.
Both Washington Nationals' shortstop Ian Desmond, with lower back tightness, and third baseman Anthony Rendon, who was sick, sat out of Wednesday's series finale with the Atlanta Braves, but Nats' skipper Matt Williams said it was possible that both would be back in the lineup for the series opener with the New York Mets tonight in Citi Field.
"I think so," Williams told reporters after yesterday's loss. "We'll have to look at Anthony. He really didn't feel well today, so we'll see how he is certainly after the train ride and when he gets to the ballpark tomorrow.
"Today, he was pretty bad. He slept most of the game. They gave him some medicine and he drank a lot of fluids, so we'll see how he is tomorrow. I think Desi will be fine though."
Apparently both Desmond and Rendon are feeling better, because both are in the lineup that was released by the Nationals this afternoon:
#Nats lineup vs. #Mets: Span CF, Rendon 3B, Werth RF, LaRoche 1B, Desmond SS, Harper LF, Ramos C, Cabrera 2B, Roark P pic.twitter.com/a6H04BsNcY
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) September 11, 2014Nationals' right-hander Tanner Roark takes on the Mets for the third time this season tonight.
In his first two starts against the Nats' NL East rivals from New York this season, Roark is (2-0) with a 3.27 ERA, five walks (4.09 BB/9) and nine Ks (7.36 K/9) in 11 IP over which he's held Mets' hitters to a combined .250/.326/.375 line.
His first start this season took place in Citi Field, where he gave up six hits, three walks and two earned runs in six innings of work in an 8-2 Nats' win.
On the mound for New York is veteran right-hander Bartolo Colon, who is (1-2) vs Washington after three starts this season in which he's posted a 2.57 ERA with two walks (0.86 BB/9) and 17 Ks (7.29 K/9) in 21 IP over which Nationals' hitters have put up a .253/.265/.443 line.
Game time tonight is 7:10 PM from Citi Field.
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