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Nationals' Monday night lineup: Adam LaRoche sits in series opener in Miami

Washington Nationals' slugger Tyler Moore is penciled into tonight's lineup, which has him playing first and batting sixth as the Nats take on the Miami Marlins in Marlins Park. Jordan Zimmermann faces the Fish for the second time this season.

Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

Adam LaRoche doesn't have much history with Miami Marlins' starter Brad Hand, against whom the Washington Nationals' left-handed hitting first baseman is 3 for 5 with a home run, and in a small sample size of at bats, he's hit lefties well early this season (3 for 10) after he struggled to hit left-handed pitching in 2013 (.198/.254/.313).

But LaRoche is sitting tonight as the Nationals take on Hand for the second time this season after putting up three runs on four hits in 3 1/3 IP against the 24-year-old Marlins' lefty last week in D.C.

Starting at first tonight for the Nats is Tyler Moore, who was called up over a week back when Scott Hairston was placed on the disabled list. Moore hasn't exactly crushed left-handed pitching so far in his major league career, posting a .220/.275/.381 line vs LHP in 93 games and 182 plate appearances so far in the majors.

Last year at Triple-A Syracuse, however, Moore posted a .366/.451/.707 line in 41 ABs vs LHPs.

• Here's the Nationals' lineup for the first game of three with the Marlins:

No word yet from Nationals' Manager Matt Williams on whether or not it's a planned day off for LaRoche, or if he's sitting since there's a left-hander on the mound. Through 12 games and 53 plate appearances this year, the 34-year-old infielder has a .311/.415/.556 line with two doubles and three home runs.

Taking the mound for the Nats tonight is right-hander Jordan Zimmermann, who got knocked around last time out against the Fish, surrendering seven hits, two walks and five earned runs in 1 2/3 IP in the nation's capital.

In the 27-year-old starter's career, he has a (4-3) record with a 3.97 ERA, 14 walks (1.79 BB/9) and 57 Ks (7.29 K/9) in 12 starts and 70 1/3 IP against Miami over which he's held Marlins' hitters to a .254/.298/.405 line.

In Marlins Park, the Wisconsin-born starter is (2-1) with a 3.00 ERA, two walks (0.86 BB/9) and 12 Ks (5.14 K/9) in 21 career innings pitched. In Miami, he's help opposing hitters to a .231/.256/.346 line. Zimmermann makes his fourth start in the Marlins' home tonight at 7:05 pm EDT.