Harper gets a day off, Moore in left

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

August 18, 2012, 11:42am

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As Davey Johnson mentioned last night, Bryce Harper will get today off, with Tyler Moore sliding in to play left field and hit seventh. Harper smacked his 11th home run of the season last night, but Johnson is giving his rookie outfielder a day to rest while also giving his other rookie outfielder - Moore - a chance to stay fresh with some at-bats against a lefty. Jesus Flores will be behind the plate catching Nationals starter Edwin Jackson, who is 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts against the Mets this season. The Nats will face Mets left-hander Jonathon Niese, who has gone 9-6 with a 3.67 ERA this season. Niese is coming off a fantastic start his last time out, going eight innings against the Braves and allowing just one run. He's never lost in five career starts against the Nationals, going 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA. For the Nats: CF Jayson Werth 2B Danny Espinosa 3B Ryan Zimmerman RF Michael Morse 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF Tyler Moore C Jesus Flores P Edwin Jackson For the Mets: SS Ruben Tejada RF Mike Baxter 3B David Wright 1B Ike Davis 2B Daniel Murphy LF Jordany Valdespin CF Andres Torres C Josh Thole P Jonathon Niese