Harper reinstated from DL, Davis optioned (Werth hitting second, Rendon seventh)

He's back. The Nationals have activated outfielder Bryce Harper from the 15-day disabled list. To make room for Harper on the active roster, right-hander Erik Davis was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. Harper, who missed the last 31 games with left-knee bursitis, is batting .287 with seven doubles, one triple, 12 home runs, 23 RBI, 25 walks and two stolen bases in 44 games this season. During his four-game rehab assignment between Single-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg, Harper batted .354 (4-for-11) with a double, one triple, one home run, three RBI, three walks and five runs scored. Davis goes back to Triple-A after getting called up and joining the Nats in New York on Saturday. He didn't appear in either of the two games against the Mets after his promotion, but posted a 6.23 ERA with seven strikeouts in five relief appearances with the Nats earlier this season. Harper will slot back into the No. 3 spot in the Nationals' lineup, with Jayson Werth moving back to the No. 2 hole and Anthony Rendon getting bumped down to seventh. This is the way manager Davey Johnson constructed his lineup to start the season, before injuries derailed things. Now, he'll go back to this alignment, hoping that the offense will be rejuvenated by Harper's return, Werth's move back near the top of the order, and Rendon's presence in the bottom half of the lineup. Take a look at the lineup below and just tell me it doesn't look a heck of a lot more dangerous from top-to-bottom than what the Nats have been running out the last couple months. The Nats will send Jordan Zimmermann (11-3, 2.28 ERA) to the mound tonight against the Brewers' Yovani Gallardo (6-7, 4.20 ERA). For the Nats CF Denard Span RF Jayson Werth LF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B Anthony Rendon C Kurt Suzuki RHP Jordan Zimmermann