LaRoche returns, Dunn absent from White Sox lineup in return to D.C.

After missing the last two games with tightness in his back, Adam LaRoche is back in the lineup tonight for the Nationals' series opener against the White Sox. Including yesterday's off-day, LaRoche had three days to rest his ailing back, which initially tightened up on him late in the Nationals' series against the Marlins last week. The cold weather at Nats Park likely contributed to the discomfort. He told reporters Sunday that he was feeling better and apparently has been cleared to give it a go tonight. The warm temperatures should help him this time. LaRoche is still hitless on the season through four games played, having gone 0-for-13. He hit a number of balls hard in the Miami series, however, and just didn't catch a break. LaRoche is batting .364 (4-for-11) with two home runs and three walks in his career against tonight's starter for the White Sox, Jake Peavy. Meanwhile, Adam Dunn makes his return to the district today for the first time since he left to sign a four-year, $56 million deal with the White Sox prior to the 2011 season, but Dunn is not in Chicago's starting lineup tonight. Dunn wore a Nats jersey from 2009-2010 and slugged 78 home runs with 208 RBIs in those two seasons. The Nationals expressed some interest in re-signing Dunn, but they were concerned over his defensive limitations and were not willing to go to the four years that the White Sox offered the burly Texan. Here are the lineups for tonight's game: For the White Sox: CF Alejandro De Aza 3B Jeff Keppinger RF Alex Rios 1B Paul Konerko LF Dayan Viciedo SS Alexei Ramirez C Tyler Flowers 2B Gordon Beckham P Jake Peavy For the Nats: CF Denard Span RF Jayson Werth LF Bryce Harper 3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Adam LaRoche SS Ian Desmond 2B Danny Espinosa C Wilson Ramos P Gio Gonzalez