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Washington Nationals' Wednesday Night Lineup vs Miami Marlins: Bryce Harper Back From Flu-Like Symptoms

Washington Nationals' manager Davey Johnson said last night that Bryce Harper made himself available to hit late in the loss to Miami in spite of the fact that the 20-year-old outfielder was battling flu-like symptoms. Harper's back in the lineup tonight for the series finale with the Fish.

By Patrick Reddington
USA TODAY Sports

Bryce Harper made himself available to hit late in last night's game in spite of the fact that the Washington Nationals' 20-year-old outfielder was dealing with the same flu-like symptons that kept his fellow outfielder, Denard Span, out of the Nats' lineup in the second game of three with the Miami Marlins in Marlins Park. "Harp came down," Davey Johnson said, "He looked like he was about to die, but he was ready to go hit. I thought about hitting him in the eighth and double-switching with him, but I looked at him twice and I said, 'No, no chance.' He was pale as a ghost." The Nats' 2010 1st Round pick is back in the lineup tonight for the series finale with the Fish:

Span remains out, obviously, so Roger Bernadina is back in the outfield tonight after going 0 for 4 with a DP grounder in the two-hole last night. The Shark is batting seventh instead in the third game of three in Miami, as Davey Johnson goes with Jayson Werth, Harper and Steve Lombardozzi (who's once again making the most of the playing time he gets) at the top of the lineup. In eight games so far this season, Lombardozzi is 6 for 16 (.375/.412/.563) with three doubles on the year.

The former Minor League Gold Glove winner has one error in 26.0 innings at second base, and as he did last year, has filled in admirably whenever called upon, this time with Danny Espinosa on the bench with a bruised wrist courtesy of a HBP from the Braves' Paul Maholm in last weekend's series in D.C. Espinosa's expected back Friday when the Nationals travel to New York to take on the Mets.

Tonight's game features Ross Detwiler on the mound against the Marlins in his third start of the season. Against Miami in his career, the '07 1st Round pick is (2-0) in six games, three of them starts in which he has a 2.38 ERA, nine walks (3.57 BB/9), 18 Ks (7.15 K/9) and a 1.24 WHIP over 22.2 IP. Can the Nationals' bullpen hold on to one for Detwiler and take two of three from the Fish?

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