Not a big surprise, but, with the start date for Chien-Ming Wang's 2012 campaign still up in the air, Nats' skipper Davey Johnson confirmed this morning that 27-year-old lefty John Lannan will be the team's fifth starter when the season begins. "John's my guy,'" Johnson told reporters including NatsInsider.com's Mark Zuckerman, "'I like John. And John can pitch. He led our club last year in wins.'" Lannan also posted a career-low 3.70 ERA and 4.28 FIP last season, to go along with 76 walks (3.70 BB/9) and 106 K's (5.17 K/9) in 33 starts and 184.2 IP over which he was (10-13). In four games, three of them starts, so far this Spring, Lannan's allowed 17 hits, four walks and nine runs, seven earned in 13.0 IP. The left-hander makes his fifth appearance and his fourth start this afternoon against the Houston Astros live from idyllic Viera, Florida's Space Coast Stadium at 1:05 pm EDT. The game is available via MLB GameDay Audio (Houston's feed) and that appears to be the only way to hear the game this afternoon.
• Lannan's coming off four scoreless innings against Atlanta in his last outing. Here's the lineup that will back him up against the Astros:
- Ian Desmond - SS
- Danny Espinosa - 2B
- Ryan Zimmerman - 3B (Word.)
- Jayson Werth - RF
- Chad Tracy - 1B
- Wilson Ramos - C
- Roger Bernadina - CF
- Jason Michaels - LF
- John Lannan - LHP