Jayson Werth returns with Gio Gonzalez on the mound (with lineups)

By Josh Land

Nationals

May 08, 2015, 11:47am

Comments

Left fielder Jayson Werth returns to the Nationals' lineup this evening after missing the past two games with soreness in his right shoulder, resulting from offseason surgery. Werth, who began the season on the disabled list, has struggled at the plate since joining the team on April 13. The 35-year-old is batting a lowly .176 (13-for-74) with no homers and only seven RBIs.

Braves starter Eric Stults beat the Nats back on April 27, when he allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings in Atlanta. It's the lefty's only victory so far to go along with two losses and a 4.91 ERA.

Nationals manager Matt Williams will counter with his own left-hander as he sends Gio Gonzalez to the hill. Gonzalez is fresh off a brilliant performance in New York last Saturday, throwing seven scoreless innings to even his record at 2-2.

For the Braves:

RF Nick Markakis
SS Andrelton Simmons
1B Freddie Freeman
LF Jonny Gomes
C A.J Pierzynski
3B Alberto Callaspo
2B Phil Gosselin
CF Cameron Maybin
LHP Eric Stults

For the Nationals:

CF Denard Span
3B Yunel Escobar
LF Jayson Werth
RF Bryce Harper
1B Ryan Zimmerman
C Wilson Ramos
SS Ian Desmond
2B Danny Espinosa
LHP Gio Gonzalez