To paraphrase the great Scottish poet Robert Burns, "But Davey, thou art no thy lane,/In proving foresight may be vain:/The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men/Gang aft agley." The line of course, in a more modern and recognizable form says that the "best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry." Nationals' manager Davey Johnson may have indeed planned on sticking with the OBP-at-the-top lineup he unveiled in the final game of the first-"half" in Miami, but word out of Nationals Park this afternoon before the start of this weekend's three-game set with the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers is that Adam LaRoche is sitting with flu-like symptoms tonight so it's a different lineup than might have been expected for Game no. 96 of 162:
#Nationals lineup vs. LA: Span 8, Rendon 4, Zimmerman 5, Harper 7, Werth 9, Desmond 6, Tracy 3, Ramos 2, Strasburg 1
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) July 19, 2013
After he was dropped to seventh in the lineup in Miami, Denard Span is back on top tonight. His numbers this season against right-handed pitchers have been fine. Going into tonight's game, the 29-year-old outfielder has a .304/.358/.427 line with 18 of his 20 doubles and all seven of his triples coming off right-handers. Rendon stays second, where he was last Sunday, but Harper drops to the fourth spot where LaRoche likely would have hit had he been available for tonight's game. Here's what the Twitterers who are at Nationals Park today had to say about LaRoche:
Adam LaRoche is out of the lineup with flu like symptoms and body aches.
— Craig Heist (@cheistsports) July 19, 2013
Adam LaRoche out of #Nats lineup due to flu-like symptoms. Chad Tracy playing first today.
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) July 19, 2013
LaRoche is out because he's sick, is all. He feels "terrible," hopes it'll be gone in a day or two.
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) July 19, 2013
Stephen Stasburg's on the mound vs former Marlins' starter Ricky Nolasco tonight in D.C., where it's currently 93° and humid. Not ideal weather for the San Diego native. Or anyone really. Game time 7:05 pm EDT.
More from Federal Baseball:
- Will Nationals' Manager Davey Johnson Stick With New Lineup In The Second "Half"?
- FBB On MASN: Nationals' Top 5 Second-Half Storylines
- Wire Taps: Nationals Welcome LA Dodgers To D.C. Tonight
- Nationals' Lucas Giolito Is Nats' Highest-Ranked Prospect On Keith Law; Minor League Ball Mid-Season Lists
- Nationals' RHP Stephen Strasburg Starts Second Half vs LA Dodgers In D.C.