Washington Nationals’ lineup for 2nd of 3 with New York Mets in D.C.

Through 23 games and 107 plate appearances at or near the top of the Washington Nationals’ lineup before last night’s injury, Adam Eaton was 27 for 91 (.297/.393/.462) with seven doubles, a triple, two home runs, 14 walks and 18 Ks on the year.

Paired with Trea Turner atop the batting order, Eaton and the 23-year-old shortstop were causing all kinds of problems for opposing teams.

Bryce Harper talked after last night’s loss, and the apparently serious injury to Eaton’s left leg, about what the outfielder has meant to the Nationals, who acquired him in a 3-for-1 deal with the Chicago White Sox and paired him up with Turner early this season.

“They’re out tablesetters up there, him and Trea, the 1-2 punch,” Harper said, “that’s pretty tough to try to handle up there, so they’ve just been unbelievable for us up there and hopefully like I said, it’s just a couple days and he’ll be okay and see how it goes.”

The Nationals placed Eaton on the 10-Day DL with a left knee strain this morning, an early sign the injury might not have been as bad as initially feared, but Dusty Baker will likely provide more information when he speaks to reporters this morning before the second game of three with the New York Mets in D.C.

Stephen Strasburg, who went on the paternity list after his last start on April 20th in Atlanta, returns to the mound today in the nation’s capital, taking on the Mets after he earned his second win with seven strong innings against the Braves in which he gave up six hits, two walks and two earned runs, striking out 10 in a 3-2 win.

Here’s Dusty Baker’s lineup for this afternoon’s matchup with the Mets: