Washington Nationals starter Jordan Zimmermann (6-7, 2.66 ERA) is set to go against the Houston Astros and J.A. Happ (3-11, 5.76 ERA) on Tuesday night in game two of a three game series in Houston. The Nationals took the first game at Minute Maid Park on Monday night by the score of 5-2 and have beaten the Astros in four straight meetings.
Zimmermann has been put on a 160 inning limit and currently sits at 115. This mean he roughly has seven starts left in 2011 and the young, rising ace will look to make the most of it and get the Nats their fifth straight victory against the Stros. Once again Houston is throwing out a struggling pitcher in Happ who is tied for most major league losses this season and has dropped seven straight.
Second baseman Danny Espinosa will take over lead off position duties on Tuesday night and Jerry Hairston Jr. returns to the starting line-up to play left field after coming off the DL on Monday. Manager Davey Johnson grew up about 200 miles west of Houston so he will have family in attendance tonight to watch him steer his new crew from D.C.
Nationals Line-Up
1. Danny Espinosa, 2B
2. Ian Desmond, SS
3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B
4. Michael Morse, 1B
5. Jayson Werth, RF
6. Wilson Ramos, C
7. Roger Bernadina, CF
8. Jerry Hairston, LF
9. Jordan Zimmermann, SP
Astros Line-Up
1. Michael Bourn, CF
2. Jeff Keppinger, 2B
3. Chris Wallace, 1B
4. Hunter Pence, RF
5. Carlos Lee, LF
6. Chris Johnson, 3B
7. Clint Barmes, SS
8. Humberto Quintero, C
9. J.A. Happ, SP