Harper returns, Ramos out

After being out of yesterday's starting lineup due to the flu, Bryce Harper is back in the Nationals lineup tonight, hitting third and playing left field. Harper pinch-hit in the eighth inning last night and was intentionally walked. He'll try and go a full nine innings tonight. As expected, catcher Wilson Ramos is out of the lineup after aggravating a left hamstring injury last night. This is the third time this season that Ramos has injured his left hamstring, and while the Nationals medical staff didn't believe that this injury was a serious one, the team will surely proceed carefully with the 26-year-old catcher. The fact that the Nats haven't made a roster move to place Ramos on the DL and recall another catcher from the minor leagues probably means Ramos will only need to be out for a short time. We'll find out more from manager Davey Johnson in a bit. Kurt Suzuki will be back behind the plate and hit eighth tonight. The Nats will send Jordan Zimmermann (13-6, 3.10 ERA) to the mound tonight, while the Giants will counter with right-hander Tim Lincecum (6-11, 4.18 ERA). For the Nats CF Denard Span 3B Ryan Zimmerman LF Bryce Harper RF Jayson Werth SS Ian Desmond 1B Adam LaRoche 2B Anthony Rendon C Kurt Suzuki RHP Jordan Zimmermann For the Giants 2B MarcoScutaro SS Brandon Crawford 1B Brandon Belt C Buster Posey RF Hunter Pence 3B Pablo Sandoval LF Roger Kieschnick CF Gregor Blanco RHP Tim Lincecum