It won't get easier for Nats' scuffling offense against deGrom tonight (with lineups)

By Josh Land

Nationals

August 01, 2015, 11:47am

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FLUSHING, N.Y. - After totaling two runs over 21 innings the last two days, it won't get any easier for the scuffling Nationals offense facing Mets ace Jacob deGrom this evening. The Nats went 15 innings between Ryan Zimmerman's solo homer early Thursday and Yunel Escobar's RBI single late Friday without scoring a run. In last night's 2-1 loss, the Nats struck out 16 times in the 12 frames.

Looking for a boost to the lineup, Nationals manager Matt Williams has moved Bryce Harper up to third in the batting order while sliding Jayson Werth to fifth.

deGrom struck out eight in 7-2 win over the Nats in D.C. on July 21. A two-run homer from Wilson Ramos was all the offense Washington could muster against the hard-throwing right-hander.

Rookie Joe Ross, who squared off with deGrom 12 days ago, gets a rematch tonight. Ross took a hard-luck loss that night after allowing three runs (two earned) over 6 1/3 innings.

Yoenis Cespedes will make his Mets debut tonight after New York acquired the slugger from Detroit just before yesterday's trade deadline.

For the Nationals:

2B Anthony Rendon
3B Yunel Escobar
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Jayson Werth
SS Ian Desmond
C Wilson Ramos
CF Michael A. Taylor
RHP Joe Ross

For the Mets:

CF Curtis Granderson
3B Daniel Murphy
LF Yoenis Cespedes
1B Lucas Duda
2B Wilmer Flores
RF Kelly Johnson
C Travis d'Arnaud
RHP Jacob deGrom
SS Ruben Tejada