Washington Nationals’ lineup for series finale with the Atlanta Braves...

For a little while there on Tuesday afternoon, those dreaming of Bryce Harper starting in his 153rd game as a No. 2 hitter looked like they would have their dreams come true.

Then, it didn’t happen.

After a lineup with Harper batting second was released, the Washington Nationals sent out a new one, with Harper back batting third, behind Adam Eaton and Anthony Rendon.

“That was a misprint,” rookie manager Davey Martinez explained before last night’s game, as quoted by MASN’s Byron Kerr.

“That’s something I thought about. I kind of construct lineups a few days in advance. It’s something that I was thinking about looking at and I must have said it. When I looked at it I said, ‘Oh no’. I don’t want to do that.’”

Harper did just fine in the three-hole, homering in his third straight game and drawing yet another walk, while avoiding striking out for the fifth straight game to start the season.

On the year, Harper’s now 6 for 15 (.400/.542/1.200) with four home runs. Ryan Zimmerman got in on the home run action too in last night’s 13-6 loss in Atlanta, connecting for his first of 2018.

“He got started today and he’s a big key to our offense,” Martinez told reporters when asked about Zim connecting for a homer, “... and when he starts swinging the bat well, he could carry us for a while.”

The offense wasn’t the issue last night, as the Nationals scored six, connected for nine hits total, and drew six walks, but A.J. Cole struggled on the mound.

This afternoon, Martinez sends Max Scherzer out to the hill as the Nats go for a series win in the finale of the three-game set with their NL East rivals.

“[Scherzer] gives us a chance to win every time he goes out there, and that’s always exciting,” Martinez said.

HERE’S THE LINEUP THAT WILL BACK SCHERZER UP IN THE 3RD OF 3: