Escobar returns as Strasburg and Zimmerman look to find a groove (with lineups)

By Josh Land

Nationals

April 30, 2015, 11:49am

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FLUSHING, N.Y. - Right-hander Stephen Strasburg didn't have much of a chance to pick up a win in his last outings as the Nationals were shut out last Saturday in Miami. He's yet to find consistency this season as he brings a 4.88 ERA into his fifth start this evening.

Strasburg is 3-1 with a 1.97 ERA and 44 strikeouts in five career starts at Citi Field.

Yunel Escobar returns to the second spot in the lineup and will play third base after missing the past two games with a cut-up hand he suffered on Monday night.

zimmerman-hr-swing-grey sidebar.jpg First baseman Ryan Zimmerman provided all the offense for the Nats the last time they faced Mets starter Jacob deGrom. In the season's second game, Zimmerman belted a two-run homer in the first inning off the young right-hander, and the Nats made it stand in a 2-1 win.

Like Strasburg, Zimmerman hasn't reached his normal offensive form to date. Despite leading the team in RBIs with 13, Zimmerman is just 18-for-88 (.205) in the first 22 games.

deGrom, the reigning National League Rookie of the Year, had been dominant in his first three starts before the Yankees tagged him for six runs in five innings last Friday.

For the Nationals

CF Denard Span
3B Yunel Escobar
LF Jayson Werth
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
C Wilson Ramos
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa

RHP Stephen Strasburg

For the Mets

RF Curtis Granderson
CF Juan Lagares
1B Lucas Duda
LF Michael Cuddyer
2B Daniel Murphy
3B Eric Campbell
SS Wilmer Flores
C Kevin Plawecki

RHP Jacob deGrom