Livan Hernandez (3-6, 3.87 ERA) takes to the hill Saturday night at Chase Field looking for his first win since April 28th. And all he and his Nationals teammates need to do to get a win is defeat an Arizona team that has won 17 of their last 21 games, hitting 26 home runs in those 21 games. Livan has had success in his career against Arizona, going 11-7 with a 3.61 ERA in 21 starts.
He will be opposed by Arizona lefthander Joe Saunders, 2-5 on the year with a 4.77 ERA. Saunders began the year 0-5, but has won his last two starts by allowing a respectable six runs in 14 innings pitched, striking out 11 batters and walking only three.
Jayson Werth will be back in the lineup Saturday, after sitting out Friday's game with swelling in his elbow that got nailed by a pitch in the series opener. Michael Morse, who had his 11 game hitting streak stopped Friday night with an 0-for-4, is still batting .405 (30-74) in since May 1.
The Nationals Line-up
1. Jerry Hairston, Jr., 3B
2. Ian Desmond, SS
3. Jayson Werth, RF
4. Michael Morse, 1B
5. Danny Espinosa, 2B
6. Wilson Ramos, C
7. Rick Ankiel, LF
8. Brian Bixler, CF
9. Livan Hernandez, SP