Nats Face Lannan For First Time In Philly Opener
By Andrew Flax
In many ways, John Lannan was emblematic of the dark days of the Nationals. He was the team’s Opening Day starter in 2009 and 2010 despite having an ERA around 4.00 his entire Nationals career, finishing his time with the team with a 4.01 ERA in six seasons. The Nationals lost a combined 196 games in those two seasons. Lannan failed to get a rotation spot when the Nationals were finally good, winning 98 games in 2012 as he spent most of the year with Triple A Syracuse. This offseason, he signed with the Phillies to be their fifth starter, and will face his former team for the first time today. He has struggled thus far this season with a 6.41 ERA in three April starts before going on the DL. He was reinstated recently and will make his first start in nearly two months today. Opposing him will be a Nat who is struggling more than Lannan ever did. Dan Haren (4-8, 5.70) has been absolutely lit up this season, allowing the most home runs in baseball. It marks a significant fall from grace for the former Cy Young contender, who finished third in the AL Cy Young race just two years ago with the Angels. He will have no help tonight, even though the Phillies are 24th in baseball in runs scored, Citizen’s Bank Park has seen the third most home runs hit of any stadium in the NL. Other notes: Denard Span will miss tonight’s game after fouling a pitch off his foot yesterday, and Adam LaRoche will sit in the middle of his 0-15 slump. Here are tonight’s lineups:
Jun 15, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Washington Nationals center fielder Denard Span (2) and relief pitcher Rafael Soriano (29) celebrate a 7-6 win over the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Washington
Jayson Werth RF
Ian Desmond SS
Haren RHP
Philadelphia
Ben Revere CF
Ryan Howard 1B
Delmon Young RF
Lannan LHP