Lineups: Harper Returns To Lineup As Strasburg Returns Home

Stephen Strasburg grew up in San Diego and attended San Diego State University. Tonight, he will be making his first career start in his hometown. With his recent issues of focus and dealing with adversity boiling over in his last start, perhaps being home will allow him to refocus and return to dominant form. He has a 3.10 ERA, but has allowed eight unearned runs, including four in his most recent start. He is also a surprising 1-5, though that is in part due to his 2.74 average runs of support, one of the lowest in baseball. Opposing him for the Padres will be Edinson Volquez, who struggled early in the season but has rebounded since. He is 3-3 with a 5.15 ERA and 1.56 WHIP, but the majority of that statistical damage was done early in the season. He allowed six runs in three innings in his first start of the year, and six more in 3.1 innings two starts later. Since then, he is 3-0 with a 2.59 ERA in five starts. The Nats’ punchless offense, having scored a grand total of one run in its past two games, will receive an injection of power back with Bryce Harper‘s return. He is making his first start in three games since he crashed into the right field wall in Los Angeles. In another change, Danny Espinosa, hitting .177 with a .208 OBP, has been benched in favor of Steve Lombardozzi at second base. Here are tonight’s lineups:

May 15, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson watches from the dugout during the game against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers defeated the Nationals 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Washington

Denard Span CF

Lombardozzi 2B

Harper LF

Ryan Zimmerman 3B

Adam LaRoche 1B

Ian Desmond SS

Kurt Suzuki C

Roger Bernadina RF

Strasburg RHP

San Diego

Everth Cabrera SS