The Washington Nationals were swept earlier in the week by the Philadelphia Phillies, but now are looking to break out some brooms of their own on the Florida Marlins in a Sunday afternoon game that will wrap up a three game series between the two teams. The Nationals have beaten the Marlins the past two nights.
Nationals starter Livan Hernandez (3-3, 3.57 ERA) will face the Marlins Anibal Sanchez (1-1, 4.15 ERA) at Sun Life Stadium in Florida. Hernandez will have a line-up supporting him that yet again is a little change up for the Nats. The Nationals shook things up in their 5-2 win Saturday night and manager Jim Riggleman hopes another different configuration will bring equal success.
Center fielder Roger Bernadina once again leads off for Washington while outfielder Laynce Nix has been moved to the three spot. Absent from the line-up is right fielder Jayson Werth who has been given the day off and just at the right time as Werth has not had a lot of success against Sanchez. Werth only has two hits and 15 strikeouts in 22 at-bats against the right hander.
Outfielder Michael Morse also returns to the line-up. Morse has sat out the past two games with a sore right knee, but will get his chance Sunday to help the Nationals sweep out of Miami on a three game win streak.
NATIONALS LINE-UP
Roger Bernadina - CF
Ian Desmond - SS
Laynce Nix - RF
Adam LaRoche - 1B
Michael Morse - LF
Jerry Hairston Jr. - 3B
Ivan Rodriguez - C
Danny Espinosa - 2B
Livan Hernandez - SP