Bryce Harper is back in the Nationals lineup tonight, his left knee/quad apparently feeling well enough for him to hit after sitting out yesterday’s game in Milwaukee. But Harper won’t be fully participating in the game at Tampa Bay; since they’re playing in an AL park, he’ll be able to serve as designated hitter for the night, reducing the amount of stress on his leg two days after getting struck by a fastball.
So it’s Clint Robinson again in right field, with Danny Espinosa again at first base. Ian Desmond, meanwhile, bats ninth on the heels of a dreadful series against the Brewers in which he at one point went 0-for-11 with 10 strikeouts.