The Washington Nationals have a .212/.283/.311 line as a team against left-handed pitchers this year, good for the second-worst team AVG, the 13th best OBP and 14th best slugging percentage in the 16-team league. The pitcher they're facing tonight in the second game of three vs the Pittsburgh Pirates in PNC, Erik Bedard, is (0-1) in three starts against the Nats, with a 1.42 ERA, 7 BB and 30 K's in 19.0 IP against the franchise, in which he's allowed five hits and five runs, three earned, while holding Nats' hitter to a .208 BAA. On the year against LHB, the 33-year-old veteran of nine MLB seasons has held the opposition to combined .083/.185/.083 line, giving up just two hits in 28 PA's. On his career, Bedard, the former Oriole, Mariner and Red Sock has held left-hander hitters to a .235/.334/.338 line, though right-handers haven't done much better against the Canadian lefty, who has held RHB to a .247/.313/.374 line over 3,215 career PA's against. This year, however, right-handers are hitting .305/.368/.410 against Bedard, so Nats' skipper Davey Johnson has loaded up on right-handers in tonight's lineup:
Tonight's lineup: Desmond, ss; Harper, cf; Zimmerman, 3b; LaRoche, 1b; Nady, rf; Espinosa, 2b; Moore, lf; Ramos, c; Detwiler, p
— Nationals PR (@NationalsPR) May 9, 2012
Tyler Moore gets his second start in left field. Bryce Harper takes over in center for Rick Ankiel, who's stepped up against left-handed pitchers just eight times this year after hitting .228/.282/.304 against lefties last year, is on the bench in spite of the fact that he's 8 for 19 in the last five games. Xavier Nady, who's got just seven hits total in 59 at bats this year, but has a .286/.353/.442 career line against lefties is in right in the Moore/Harper/Nady outfield of your dreams. The Washington Nationals are going to try to stop the two-game slide with right-handed power. 7:05 pm EDT start time tonight. Ross Detwiler, (3-1) with a 1.59 ERA, 3.33 FIP, nine walks (2.86 BB/9) and 21 K's (6.67 K/9), is on the hill for the visiting Nationals in PNC Park.