VIERA, Fla. - Not only was Bryce Harper featured on his second Sports Illustrated cover last week, the Nationals' 20-year-old phenom has also landed on the cover of Men's Health.
Harper joins Angels outfielder Mike Trout and Giants catcher Buster Posey on one of the covers, but each player will also have his own individual cover, as well. Here is Harper's solo cover, which refers to him as a "five-tool stud" and tells readers to "be brash, and back it up."
Not quite the same as Harper telling fans to "be as sexy as you can," but it's close.
Chris Young was scheduled to throw another bullpen session today, but he is no longer on the pitching schedule for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
The Nationals were originally planning to have Young piggyback Ross Detwiler on Sunday, giving the veteran right-hander his first game appearance of spring and then lining him up to take over Detwiler's spot in the spring rotation when Detwiler left to pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
Those plans appear to have been adjusted, however. Young might need a bit more time before getting into a Grapefruit League game.
Rafael Soriano will throw his second live batting practice session tomorrow, and Henry Rodriguez will toss a bullpen session tomorrow, as well. Rodriguez could then be ready to throw a live BP and possibly get into a game by early next week.
Tyler Clippard will make his spring debut tonight against the Braves. Clippard has taken things slow early in camp, but says he feels great health-wise. Cole Kimball is also scheduled to pitch tonight, so it will be interesting to see how manager Davey Johnson manages his late-inning arms in the eighth and ninth innings.
Danny Espinosa is set to lead off not just for tonight's game against the Braves, but also tomorrow afternoon in Jupiter against the Cardinals.
Espinosa will play shortstop tonight and will DH tomorrow.
Nationals hitters will have a couple tough matchups the next two days, as they're set to face Braves right-hander Julio Teheran tonight and Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright tomorrow.
Here is the Nats' lineup for tonight:
SS Danny Espinosa
2B Steve Lombardozzi
CF Bryce Harper
DH Tyler Moore
3B Chad Tracy
1B Chris Marrero
LF Corey Brown
C Sandy Leon
RF Eury Perez
P Jordan Zimmermann
For the Braves:
DH Reed Johnson
RF Jason Heyward
LF Justin Upton
1B Freddie Freeman
CF B.J. Upton
2B Dan Uggla
3B Juan Francisco
C Christian Bethancourt
SS Ramiro Pena
P Julio Teheran
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