Game #65
Nats (31-33) at Detroit Tigers (33-29)
Recommended Stories
After a rough weekend in Cleveland – save for Stephen Strasburg’s second big-league start in 1 9-4 win on Sunday – the Nats make the short trip to Detroit, where they play for the first time since the franchise moved to Washington in 2005. The Tigers swept the Nats in 2007, but that series was played at RFK Stadium. John Lannan (2-3, 5.00 ERA) is back on the mound after a poor start against the Pirates last Wednesday. He gave up 10 hits and walked three batters in just 4 2/3 innings. That came against the sport’s worst offense so far in 2010. Pittsburgh has scored just 204 runs and ranks 30th in MLB – though Detroit isn’t exactly the ’27 Yankees, either, with 271 runs scored (21st). Max Scherzer (2-6. 6.30 ERA) opposes the Nats, who had a season-high 16 hits on Sunday against the Indians.
By now you’ve seen that Strasburg – the N.L. player of the week – is on the cover of this week’s Sports Illustrated. By now you’ve also said a handful of prayers and/or lit candles to keep that notorious SI jinx away from the Nats’ best pitcher. Certainly another bit of national attention for a club that had little identity outside the D.C. area before this season. Even inside local households it was tough to find much on this team – as the television ratings consistently showed. That’s all changed now. Strasburg is set to start again on Friday against the White Sox at Nationals Park. Lineups for both teams listed below. Mike Morse is at first base tonight for the Nats as Adam Dunn takes his turn at designated hitter in the American League ballpark.
Nats
2B – Guzman
CF – Morgan
3B – Zimmerman
DH – Dunn
LF – Willingham
C – Rodriguez
RF – Bernadina
1B – Morse
SS – Desmond
Tigers
CF – Raburn
DH – Damon
RF – Ordonez
1B – Cabrera
LF – Boesch
2B – Guillen
3B – Inge
C – Laird
SS – Worth
