Bryce Harper returns, will DH vs. Rays (with lineups)

By Josh Land

Nationals

June 15, 2015, 12:20pm

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Bryce Harper missed his second game of the season yesterday after catching a fastball on the inside of his left knee in the ninth inning on Saturday. Harper is set to return tonight as Nationals manager Matt Williams has the 22-year-old penciled in as the designated hitter for the interleague contest against the Rays.

harper-stare-at-home-run-gray-sidebar (2).png It will be the first time Harper will serve as the DH in his four-year career.

The Nationals will obviously welcome Harper's bat back to the lineup. He is slashing .529/.636/.941 with two homers, one double, four walks and five RBIs over a current five-game hitting streak.

Clint Robinson will make his second straight start for Harper in right field. Robinson delivered a huge two-run double to extend the Nats' lead in the seventh inning yesterday. Robinson has seen his playing time increase over the past week with Ryan Zimmerman on the disabled list. Robinson has responded by batting .313 (5-for-16) over his last five games, which includes his first career big league homer.

Williams has dropped Ian Desmond all the way to the bottom of the Nationals order. In his last three games, Desmond is 0-for-12 with 10 strikeouts.

For the Nationals:

CF Denard Span
2B Anthony Rendon
3B Yunel Escobar
DH Bryce Harper
C Wilson Ramos
RF Clint Robinson
1B Danny Espinosa
LF Michael A. Taylor
SS Ian Desmond

LHP Gio Gonzalez

For the Rays:

LF Brandon Guyer
DH Joey Butler
3B Evan Longoria
2B Logan Forsythe
RF Steven Souza Jr.
1B Jake Elmore
SS Asdrubal Cabrera
CF Kevin Kiermaier
C Rene Rivera

RHP Erasmo Ramirez