• Nats' OF Bryce Harper knew Astros' starter Livan Hernandez was going to start him off with his trademark slow bender the first time they faced off last week. What will the 19-year-old outfielder see from the 36-year-old right-hander today? Hernandez starts for Houston again this afternoon when Washington takes on the NL Central's Astros for the third time this Spring. MLB.com's BIll Ladson wrote last night that the Nats have also talked to the 'Stros about outfielder Jason Bourgeois three times since the Winter Meetings as they continue to search for an outfielder. Bourgeois, 30, had his best season at the major league level last year, putting up a .294/.323/.357 line with eight doubles, two triples, a home run and 31 stolen bases... Is Bourgeois the solution to the Nats' outfield issues? He's got just 192 games and 431 PA's at the major league level at 30? Any better an option than Roger Bernadina or Rick Ankiel? The Nats are running a Jason Michaels, Brett Carroll, Bryce Harper outfield out there today...Here's the lineup that will be backing Edwin Jackson up this afternoon:
- Steve Lombardozzi - SS
- Danny Espinosa - 2B
- Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
- Mark DeRosa - 1B
- Jayson Werth - DH
- Jason Michaels - LF
- Wilson Ramos - C
Bryce Harper -RFEury Perez - CF- Brett Carroll - RF