Gonzalez on mound for series opener against Phillies (LaRoche scratched)

By Dan Kolko

Nationals

July 31, 2014, 11:50am

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After a nine-game road trip in which they went 5-4, the Nationals are back home to face the Phillies. There's no word yet on when newly acquired second baseman/shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera will join the team. The Nationals (58-47) have a 1 1/2-game lead in the National League over the second-place Braves. The Phillies sit at the bottom of the division with a 47-61 record. For the Phillies CF Ben Revere SS Jimmy Rollins 2B Chase Utley RF Marlon Byrd C Carlos Ruiz LF Grady Sizemore 1B Darin Ruf 3B Andres Blanco LHP Cliff Lee For the Nats CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond LF Bryce Harper C Wilson Ramos 2B Danny Espinosa LHP Gio Gonzalez Update: LaRoche has been scratched, but only because he's being given a day off. He'll be replaced at first base by Kevin Frandsen. Here's the new lineup, with Ramos moving into the cleanup spot. CF Denard Span 3B Anthony Rendon RF Jayson Werth C Wilson Ramos SS Ian Desmond LF Bryce Harper 1B Kevin Frandsen 2B Danny Espinosa LHP Gio Gonzalez