Ian Desmond sits as erratic season continues

Ian Desmond's erratic season in the field and at the plate has led him to be the most criticized Washington Nationals player this season. So it's quite ironic that public sentiment is for Danny Espinosa, the most criticized Nat of the past few years, to replace Desmond in the lineup. Either way, Desmond sits tonight and Espinosa makes his fifth start of the season at shortstop.

"It creates opportunity for me to give Desi a rest, which is important," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "We want to put the best lineup out there every single day, but there are times when guys need a break, too. I see it in Desi's face when he comes back to the dugout and it hasn't gone well. There is a grind there, and there's no fix. You don't fix. Except support, rest if you can, work. Sometimes you just gotta give them a day, and today's that day for Desi. It's not saying that he won't be in the lineup tomorrow, but for today he's getting rest."

After scuffling with his bat for most of the season, Desmond seemed to be battling his way out of the slump. Over a seven-game hitting streak beginning July 20, Desmond batted .478 (11-for-23) with four homers, seven RBIs, four walks and eight runs scored. That hot streak began against the Mets' stout pitching staff in a series win at Nats Park and continued while facing the Pirates' tough arms during the first leg of the road trip.

But since the Nationals left Pittsburgh, Desmond has gone 4-for-31 (.129) with a triple, three RBIs, one walk and 15 strikeouts. Five times this year, Desmond has whiffed in all four of his plate appearances in a game. That's how his recent low stretch began in Miami on July 28. Desmond's 125 strikeouts are fifth-highest in the majors.

"Any time he has success, he's swinging at strikes," Williams said. "If he's not swinging at strikes then he or anybody else doesn't have a whole lot of success. Again, he's played just about every day. At certain points during the season, we want to give him some time off and today's an opportunity to do that."

In a season filled with injuries for the Nationals, Desmond has remained healthy. This will be only the fifth game the 29-year-old won't start this year.

Meanwhile, Espinosa's contributions at the plate along with his versatility in the field have been vital to the Nationals' success. His 10 homers remain third-best on the Nats behind only Desmond and Bryce Harper.

Espinosa has made just one start and appeared in only three games since Anthony Rendon returned from the disabled list on July 25. But in his last 10 starts before returning to the bench, Espinosa wasn't exactly hammering the ball at the plate. The 28-year-old batted .200 (8-for-40) with 10 strikeouts.

"It gets Danny an opportunity to get back in the lineup," Williams said. "As we've spoken about the last few days anyway, we'd like to get him in there. We're not thinking about tomorrow at this point."